led, jumped left and not fluent 3rd, headed after 3 out, no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway 7th, close 3rd when mistake 2 out, mistake last, no extra flat
held up in 4th, not fluent 3rd, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway after 7th, awkward on bend before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out, challenged last, ridden out hands and heels to lead close home
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd or 6th, led after 3 out, driven flat, headed close home
held up, mistake 3rd, outpaced 7th, soon weakened
chased front pair, pushed along before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, one pace and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat
Bulletproof is chasing a four-timer after two wins at Newton Abbot and one over a shorter trip here earlier in the month. But a 10lb rise is going to be difficult to overcome and the much-younger DRIFTER (NAP) has also been on an upward curve lately. He has won over shorter so dropping back from 2m4f shouldn't be a problem and Paul O'Brien's claim could be crucial in a race like this. Cruise In Style doesn't always find much for pressure but is entitled to be thereabouts again and makes more appeal than the disappointing Prince Of Poets. Party Palace is well treated nowadays but doesn't look the force of old.
Drifter (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden after last, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Ever So Much (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Bulletproof (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Held up in last pair, stready headway approaching 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, led 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Createur (11-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Tingo In The Tale (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Close up, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Jack Bear (9-12) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Chakisto (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up and behind, headway on outside approaching 6th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, dist behind Mystifiable (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Cruise In Style (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Dream Bolt (11-6) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Only Gorgeous (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, every chance after 3 out, lost place before next, weakened, 5th of 7, 28 1/4l behind Bayley's Dream (10-11) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Party Palace 12-1 (10-7) Chased leader until before 7th, chased leaders, weakened quickly on long run to 3 out, 6th of 10, 34 1/2l behind Mystifiable (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Prince Of Poets 7-2fav (11-3) Led, hit 3 out, headed next, readily held before the last, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Bulletproof (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
