held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
led and soon clear until 6th, headed approaching last, one pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led approaching last, kept on well
held up towards rear, lost place from 7th
held up in rear, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened from next
tracked leader, not fluent 1st, blundered badly 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, weakened 4 out
Nonrunner
There probably won't be too many involved at the business end of this gruelling three miles and FOURTY ACERS is taken to come back freshened up and win, while Willies Way is much respected and Little Shilling can again go well. The selection has put together some very good form in the context of this race, staying very well, acting on the ground, and also winning from this mark over fences at this track. He was unlucky on his only start this summer, when his saddle slipped early on in the piece and David Pipe has now kept him back for this, which effectively is like being visored for the first time after he didn't go far last time, and we will side with him. Willies Way looks a tough opponent. He has won four of his last six starts, so is in cracking form, stays well and relishes fast ground. He races from a career-high mark of 116 today, but he is a resolute galloper and may still be capable of winning from that. Little Shilling is 5lbs higher than when winning over a similar trip at Bangor last month and was well placed to run up a sequence of six summer wins for Tim Vaughan. He seems to go on any ground and there is every reason to believe that he will remain competitive. Orchard King was a little disappointing last time and races from 3lbs out of the handicap now, which won't make it any easier, while A P McCoy will certainly have to earn his fee if he is to get Job One home in front if previous form is worth anything. Fourty Acers is taken to score.
Little Shilling (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd next, about 2 lengths down when left in lead last, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sep beating Cannon Fire (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Fire And Rain (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m 4f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Jun, 17 ran.
Templer (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 13l behind Ellerslie George (10-10) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Sep.
Markington 14-1 (9-13) Never travelling in rear, under pressure 5th, soon tailed off, 14th of 17, well behind Raslan (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Aug.
Go Amwell 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, hit 6th, behind when fell 4 out, in a race won by Little Shilling (11-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sep, 11 ran.
Orchard King (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, ridden after 2 out, hanging left before last, one pace final 2f, 4th of 12, 5l behind Peters Star (10-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Captain Becket 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, never on terms, 9th of 16, 31l behind Deadline (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Willies Way 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway 7th, jumped left 8th, mistake 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, rallied last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep beating Phone In (10-8) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Job One (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Led until jumped slowly 1st, chased leaders, lost place after 7th, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Robert The Brave (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 4f noc chs (4) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Tora Bora (GER) 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4th to 10th, weakened next, 7th of 14, 38l behind Esme Rides A Gaine (10-0) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
