tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear and keen, headway approaching 3 out, led going to 2 out, kept on well, comfortably
held up in rear, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
held up mid-division, hit 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leader, ridden after 2 out, one pace
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, outpaced next, never dangerous
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and every chance when blundered 2 out, hung left flat, kept on
led, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, never dangerous
Nonrunner
It'd be foolish to write-off Ladies Best now connections reach for a visor as his performances on the flat advertised a level of ability that the rest of these simply don't have but he has regressed since and has questions to answer. With that in mind we'll side with SIMONE MARTINI towards the other end of the handicap as he bids to defy a 7lb penalty gained at Uttoxeter. That day connections landed some gamble and they may be tempted to play up their winnings with conditions suitable as he'll be going up more in future. Northern Lad is consistent without looking well-in so a bigger threat could be Nono Le Sage if blinkers do the trick. Honourable Dreamer makes his handicap debut representing shrewd connections which makes a market check obligatory but Simone Martini need only repeat his Uttoxeter run to take all the beating.
Ladies Best 25-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, ridden after 8th, no impression, behind when blundered badly 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Sea Cliff (10-9) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Sep.
Northern Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 6th, mistake 3 out, soon went 3rd, went 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 19l behind Am I Blue (10-13) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sep.
Nono Le Sage (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Prominent early, mid-division, headway 5th, blundered 7th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 9th, in a race won by R'Cam (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Sep, 9 ran.
Just The Job (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 4th, behind next, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Rudanphast (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Sep.
Havenstone (IRE) 9-2fav (11-2) Mid-division, 5th and ridden after 14th, headway after 3 out, stayed on flat, not able to reach winner, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Rash Moment (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Sep.
Orion Express 15-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, effort when not fluent 9th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, 31l behind Caheerloch (10-11) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Aug.
Honourable Dreamer (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Prominent until not fluent 3rd, not fluent and dropped to rear 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Pendower (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) sft in Mar.
Bernard 16-1 (10-0) In rear, jumped left 1st, reminders after 7th, pulled up after 9th, in a race won by Rifleman (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in Jun, 11 ran.
Goodwill Phil 20-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders after, weakened into modest 5th when fell last, in a race won by Cat Six (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Simone Martini (IRE) 3-1fav (9-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, switched left approaching last, soon led, ran on well to draw clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy beating Goat Castle (11-9) by 10l, 7 ran.
Mangonel 33-1 (10-0) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, 5th and no impression when mistake last, 5th of 12, 10l behind Strumble Head (10-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Sep.
Wujood 16-1 (10-8) Tracked leader until 8th, soon driven, weakened after 3 out, last of 8, 33l behind Isle Of Inishmore (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Aug.
Monsieur (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Led, took keen hold, ridden and headed after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 12, 32l behind Louis Ludwig (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Aug.