held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out
held up in rear, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, led last, kept on strongly
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 3 out, kept on to take 3rd run-in
led, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, rallied to regain lead before last, headed last, no impression
tracked leader, led 2 out, headed before last, no extra and lost 3rd place run-in
Nonrunner
Watt Broderick shot up the weights in the spring and paid the price at Ludlow in May. Zarzal's last two wins have come over fences and Ted Dolly has also been racing over the larger obstacles but City Line won over hurdles at Perth last month and has been going well in general. He still looks better treated than Panache and Goldie Horn, who is only a plater. JAJA DE JAU failed to give weight to Sureness at Uttoxeter last time but the winner followed up under a penalty at Southwell so that run may have been better than it looked at the time - the mare gets the nod in this finale.
Zarzal (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, struggling before 3 out, never involved, tailed off, 7th of 9, 43l behind Detroit Red (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Jul.
City Line (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Held up 4th and last, tracked leading pair 4 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden and effort when hung right after last, every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Robin's Command (11-5) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jul.
Panache 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 4th, outpaced after 3 out, 4th and one pace when mistake 2 out, 4th of 12, 13l behind Manjakani (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Ted Dolly (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Nikos Extra (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Goldie Horn 1-2fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2nd, made rest, ridden 3 lengths clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Tender Surprise (10-2) by 2l, 5 ran.
Jaja De Jau 2-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd after 3 out, soon ridden, chased winner last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Sureness (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Watt Broderick (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, every chance and ridden 3 out, weakened flat, 6th of 9, 9l behind August Hill (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in May.
