took keen hold, held up in rear, steady headway approaching 6th, driven and went 3rd before last, kept on same pace and no impression
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until 6th, went 2nd again before 3 out, no chance with winner
unseated rider and loose before start, led in start, raced wide chasing leaders, pushed along and lost place before 5th, reminders and struggling soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
chased leader until 4th, reminders soon after next, struggling and soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
led, went left and mistake 8th, jumped left after, driven before 3 out, went badly left and headed 2 out, soon beaten, went left and blundered last
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 6th until approaching 3 out, weakened before next, switched left between last 2, blundered last
held up tracking leaders, headway 6th, went 2nd going well before 2 out, led 2 out, clear between last 2, eased close home
Royal Peak won at Worcester in August but finished tailed off at Uttoxeter last month and is still 7lb higher. Hopstrings is consistent and was only beaten a neck last time. She's been raised 4lb but should be thereabouts again and Cruising Bye was knocking on the door when last seen. Cottage Acre is not the force of old, however, while Ifyouthinkso may just need this though should be capable of winning a race like this before long. WESTERN PRIZE is only a tentative selection but will handle the fast ground better than most and his late rally was just denied at Sedgefield last time - he can go one better now.
Bold Cuffs 9-4fav (10-13) Took keen hold early, tracked leader, led when not fluent 6th, headed after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened before next, 6th of 11, 39l behind Sporting Boy (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Sep.
Western Prize 4-1 (11-1) Led, driven and hard pressed 2 out, headed narrowly last, ridden and stayed on when rider dropped whip flat, held near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Weybridge Light (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Hopstrings 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 9th, close up 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Marico (10-6) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Ifyouthinkso 6-1 (11-0) In touch in 5th, mistake 15th, soon weakened, 5th of 6, well behind Night In Milan (11-7) at Kelso 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs in Apr.
Royal Peak (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Prominent, blundered 5th, ridden before 9th, soon lost place, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Mia's Anthem (10-4) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Cottage Acre (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leading pair, not fluent 6th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, no chance when went right final 2, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Angles Hill (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Cruising Bye 9-2 (10-0) Mid-division, chased leaders before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, mistake last when held, 2nd of 8, 12l behind He's A Hawker (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gf in Jul.
Landenstown Star (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Led until 6th, weakened quickly before next, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 8, 30l behind Listen And Learn (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Lets Get Cracking (FR) 25-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 10l behind North London (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Sep.
