chased leaders, went 2nd from 7th, led after next, clear before last, held on well
with leader, led after 4th, headed next, lost place after 8th, headway before 3 out, stayed on strongly from last, went 2nd towards finish, held by winner
towards rear, pushed along before 9th in rear, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 4 out
behind, headway before 5 out, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, tracked leaders in 3rd from 8th, went 2nd from 5 out, every chance 2 out, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish
led, headed after 4th, led again 5th, headed after 8th, weakened from 5 out
always towards rear, weakened from 5 out, soon pulled up
The jumpers take centre stage for the final four races and STRUMBLE HEAD can repeat his triumph in this contest in 2012 off a pound lower mark. This is his time of year and he usually runs well on the track. Spanish Optimist won at Uttoxeter last month and was then third on the same track but has gone up another couple of pounds since. Comehomequietly showed a bit more at Stratford last time but Islandmagee and Sun Tzu have become disappointing and the other pair step up a grade for this.
Strumble Head (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, reminders after 2nd and again 8th, led 10th, headed 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Big Sound (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Comehomequietly (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up behind in touch, outpaced 14th, mistake next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure approaching last, never on terms, 4th of 7, 10l behind Bracken House (11-10) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jul.
Sun Tzu (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 5th, headed 13th, weakened 5 out, last of 7, well behind Western King (11-10) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Spanish Optimist (IRE) 4-1 (11-13) Held up in touch, went 3rd 5 out, every chance 2 out, one pace from last, lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Rogue Dancer (9-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Islandmagee (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed before last, weakened flat, 5th of 7, 9l behind Princesse Fleur (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Jul.
Lodgician (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Led until 1st, led after 2nd until 3rd, stayed handy, pecked slightly 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Rusty Nail (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gf.
If And When 8-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 4 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 5th of 6, 13l behind Hopeand (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gf in Jul.
