held up in last pair, headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, chance when flattened 3 out, soon ridden, plugged on pressing for modest 3rd run-in, no chance with leading duo
led until 2nd, led again after next, strongly pressed from 3 out, narrowly headed last, readily outpaced by winner run-in
raced out wide chasing leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened last
held up in rear on inside, headway out wide under pressure before 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, kept on to hold modest 3rd run-in
soon tracking leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced and weakened
held up in last pair, headway out wide 5th, mistake and outpaced after 4 out, dropped to rear before next, no chance after
pressed leader, led narrowly 2nd until after next, chased leader, challenged from 3 out, led narrowly last, ridden clear run-in
NonRunner
FAT SAM has dropped 5lb in the weights since third over timber at Uttoxeter in May. He is rated 8lb higher over fences and could be the answer to a tricky finale. Nibras Gold has placed in all four starts since scoring at Ludlow in the spring but is still 7lb higher and Pop The Champagne has been in the handicapper’s grip this year. Cabrakan is a consistent sort and Coolnaugh Haze is back in the right grade but may be a few pounds too high at present. Copshill Lad had every chance when falling at the last at Fakenham in May but will find easier races than this in the months ahead.
Coolnaugh Haze (IRE) 10-3fav (11-7) Mid-division, effort when not fluent 2 out, 4th and no impression on leaders flat, 4th of 11, 6l behind Liverpool Knight (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Nibras Gold (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Not always fluent, chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 6, 5 1/2l behind Alexandra Romanov (10-11) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Fat Sam 7-2 (12-0) Chased leader until slow 2nd, stayed handy, lost place before 3 out, 5th of 7, 25l behind Creative Control (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Pop The Champagne (FR) 11-2 (11-13) Led, hit 4th, headed 6th, tracked leader until ridden 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 15 3/4l behind Isabella Bee (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Copshill Lad (IRE) 11-8fav (11-6) Tracked winner, ridden 2 out, held when fell last, at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in May.
Cabrakan (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, went close 3rd after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 11, 4 1/4l behind Imperial Data (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Lucky Lover Boy (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Midfield, ridden before 4 out, soon outpaced and dropped to last, no impression 3 out, tailed off before last, last of 6, dist behind Fringill Dike (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Thahab Ifraj (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Held up in 5th, dropped to rear 8f out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Cherry Cola (10-2) at Bath 1m 6f hcp (6) gd in Sep.
Byzantine Empire 7-2 (12-0) Keen in rear, ridden and lost touch before 2 out, weakened, 7th of 8, 35 3/4l behind Feel The Pinch (11-7) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
