held up mid-division, pushed along 5 out, soon lost place, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway before 8 out, led narrowly last, just held on close home
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up in touch, weakened before 3 out
in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
with leader, pushed along before 3 out, weakened next
held up in touch, ridden before last, no impression
towards rear, pushed along 5 out, headway before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden before 3 out, never dangerous
led, clear before 7 out, ridden and headed narrowly last, just held close home
held up towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, headway before 3 out, in 3rd before last, kept on same pace
It is probably significant that Richard Johnson prefers Vango De Vaige to stablemate Hurlstone Point but the former was tailed off when pulled up in a race over track and trip in April in which NORSE LEGEND finished third. Colin Tizzard’s charge has only won once so far but this is a low-key affair and he does have a 10lb claimer to help with his big weight. Mogestic won at Plumpton and Fontwell at the start of the summer but is possibly a few pounds too high now. Ruaraidh Hugh was sold out of Julia Brooke’s stable after finishing second at Fakenham while Midnight Midge was probably flattered by his run at Wincanton.
Ruaraidh Hugh (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Tracked winner, ridden 3 out, outpaced next, 2nd of 6, 22l behind Collodi (11-3) at Fakenham 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Norse Legend 7-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, 3rd and no extra run-in, 3rd of 15, 6 1/2l behind Jully Les Buxy (11-4) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Big Difference (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Prominent, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Mick Maestro (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
Champagne Chaser 20-1 (11-12) In touch on outside, ridden after 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden and weakened between last 2, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Frozen Flame (11-13) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Midnight Midge 50-1 (10-12) Held up in 4th place, outpaced 2 out, went modest 3rd last, hung right and kept on under pressure run-in, 3rd of 4, 3l behind Full (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) fm in Oct.
Triopas (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Prominent, effort after 3 out, soon weakened, kept on into modest 4th after last, 4th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Chanceiton (10-7) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Mogestic (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 4th, ridden after 3 out, no impression before next, kept on flat, 5th of 8, 7 3/4l behind David John (11-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Hurlstone Point 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, 11th of 16, 33l behind Posh Trish (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
Tzar De L'Elfe (FR) 40-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Royal Hall (10-9) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Invicta Lake (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Prominent early, mid-division, blundered 5th, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced when hit next, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind Hepijeu (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Pahaska (GER) 40-1 (11-12) Led until approaching 2 out, soon lost place, 7th of 9, 26 3/4l behind Versifier (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Vango De Vaige (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Always in rear, tailed off, pulled up, at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
