slight lead until after 1st, handy in 3rd place, led 14th until approaching 4 out, chased winner, ridden and well held before the last
on and off the bit, held up in touch, hit 5th, closer at 13th, went 2nd next, led approaching 4 out, came clear before last, kept on strongly
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced and weakened
chased leader, led 5th until before 8th, mistake next, jumped slowly 10th, lost 2nd before 14th where bad mistake, chased leading pair, pecked next, no impression
slight after 1st until 5th, chased leader until led again before 8th, mistake and headed 14th, weakened next, behind when mistake 4 out, tailed off
always in rear, driven and struggling before 13th, tailed off
A number of these would have a chance on their best form. Doing Fine would have picked up and carried most of these in his heyday and Philip Donovan takes off 6lb. Delgany Demon and Exxaro are also feasibly weighted but just as likely to down tools. Plantagenet struggled over marathon trips at the end of last season but goes well fresh, though is paying the price for a couple of victories last winter. Our Reward has won twice over hurdles this year but is now 0-11 over fences. KINGS TEMPTATION made all for a second course and distance success here in August. He will need to jump better to defy a 5lb rise against better opposition but, still only seven, is capable of doing so.
Plantagenet 14-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed 11th, led next, headed and mistake 4 out, jumped right and weakened 2 out, tired when fell last, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Doing Fine (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, not going well after, tried to close 3 out, no impression, well beaten after 2 out, 5th of 7, 23l behind Young Wolf (11-12) at Stratford 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Kings Temptation 8-11fav (11-12) Made all, jumped clear 3 out, driven next, rider lost irons after last, ran on strongly, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Stage One (10-11) by 13l, 4 ran.
Exxaro (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Prominent, jumped right and bumped 3rd, not fluent next, pushed along after 6th, not fluent next, struggling 14th, pulled up before 16th, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Delgany Demon 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led 5th, ridden and soon headed after 3 out, weakened next, pulled up last, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Our Reward (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Chased leader to 6th, pushed along and struggling approaching 9th, rallied before 2 out, led approaching last, jumped left, stayed on, won at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Will O'The West (11-2) by 8l, 4 ran.
