held up, headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, 3rd when switched sharply left after 2 out, stayed on into 2nd flat, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, 2nd approaching 3 out until before next, where weakened and mistake
held up in last pair, stready headway approaching 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, led 2 out, clear before last, easily
led, hit 3 out, headed next, readily held before the last, no extra in 3rd flat
took keen hold in mid-division, headway tracking leaders before 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, soon behind, tailed off
chased leader until before 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off
always in rear, pushed along and struggling before 4th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along after 5th, one pace and lost place appproaching 2 out, plugged on
raced wide tracking leaders, outpaced before 3 out, no chance after
The penny has suddenly dropped with BULLETPROOF, who has recorded back-to-back victories at Newton Abbot. He has a penalty to carry here but the booking of Sean Bowen is a major plus in a race like this and the hat-trick beckons against largely out-of-form rivals. Createur never seems to run the same race twice, though is due a good one. Prince Of Poets was well beaten by the selection last time, along with Tenby Jewel, and looks a hard ride while Prettyasapicture ran a shocker last time and is now visored.
Createur (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) Took keen hold, tracking leaders, effort when left in 2nd at 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 6, 26 1/2l behind Agenor (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Aug.
Prettyasapicture 5-1fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway when hampered 4th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Bulletproof (IRE) 9-2fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon hampered, led before last, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep beating Bumble Bay (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Prince Of Poets 5-1fav (11-12) Prominent, led after 3 out, headed before next, ridden and one pace between last 2, no impression with front pair when not fluent last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 11, 9l behind Bulletproof (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Mexican Border (GER) 6-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, chased clear leaders, closed after 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened before next, 6th of 10, dist behind Upton Wood (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in May.
Tiger D'oust (FR) 17-2 (11-7) In rear, tailed off before 11th, pulled up, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Dance 14-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 2nd, ridden 5th, well beaten from next, last of 7, dist behind Honkytonktennessee (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jul.
Fashion Icon (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Held up behind when stumbled and unseated rider after 1st, at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Aug.
Tenby Jewel (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) In touch on outside, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 5th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Bulletproof (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Kayf Charmer 20-1 (10-5) Held up, headway approaching 7th, pushed along in 5th after 3 out, soon no extra, 8th of 15, 34l behind Baldadash (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Apr.