mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, one pace from 2f out
held up in mid-division, led 5th, ridden approaching 2f out, headed last, no extra flat
mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened
chased leader, every chance last, stayed on to go 2nd close home
prominent, ridden 5th, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed 5th, soon weakened
held up last, good headway from 3 out, ridden and led last, driven out
held up in touch, headway from 5th, every chance last, an on flat
A wide open seller here and many would have chances on their best form but the main protagonists look to be Sheer Guts, Oh Sunny Boy and Gray Knight and the tentative vote is given to the last named. The selection was a fair second behind Sheer Guts last time out and off the same mark here and under conditions that suit he looks the value bet in a trappy affair. Sheer Guts rates the main danger but he is worse off at the weights with his main rivals and at likely odds he looks worth opposing. . Oh Sunny Boy is another with place claims on his latest third behind Sheer Guts but he has little to find with the selection on the same terms here and for that reason he is passed over on this occasion. Of the remainder Distant Romance showed improved form to be fourth last time out but consistency is not his strong point and in a race where stakes should be kept to a minimum for the winner we return to Gray Knight.
Sheer Guts (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Prominent, good headway to go 2nd approaching 3 out, led on bit last, pushed clear, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) gf in Sept beating Gray Knight (11-4) by 8l, 12 ran.
Spectacular Hope 10-1 (11-0) Behind from 5th, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Outside Investor (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f sll hdl (G) gf in Aug.
Gray Knight (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) In touch, headway to chase leader approaching 6th, stayed on from 2 out, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Sheer Guts (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) gf in Sept.
Isam Top (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Led until 5th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Borehill Joker (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hdl (G) gf in May, 11 ran.
Oh Sunny Boy (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) With leader, led after 5th, ridden 3 out, mistake 2 out, headed last, hard ridden and weakened after, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Sheer Guts (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) gf in Sept.
Hidden Smile (USA) 25-1 (10-3) In touch, mistake 3rd, reminders 5th, ridden to chase leader 4 out, hit 2 out and weakened, 5th of 13, 6l behind Honan (10-10) at Plumpton 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf in Sept.
Distant Romance 40-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 12, 22l behind Sheer Guts (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) gf in Sept.
Dontnock'er (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) In 3rd place when blundered and fell at the 2nd in race won by Reach The Clouds (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
