tracked leader, effort 3 out, weakened next
prominent, lost place before 6 out, soon beaten
held up, mistake 5th and 10th, never dangerous
tracked leaders, slow 12th, driven to challenge when hit last, no extra closing stages
mistakes in touch, lost pace 5 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway 10th, chased leaders 4 out, led before last, driven clear, stayed on well
led, ridden and headed before last, weakened flat
in rear when blundered and unseated rider 3rd
BROWN BEAR still isn’t scaling the heights of a couple of years ago but is still probably the one to beat in this on recent form. Course winner Kingston Mimosa has a chance off bottom weight and an on-song Hit The Highway would be a danger, though probably prefers softer ground. Goldslinger has won on the Flat and over hurdles and has shown some ability in three starts over fences so also goes on the short-list.
Hit The Highway (IRE) 13-8 (10-11) Led to 2nd, tracked leader until lost place from 5 out, last of 3, 37l behind Goodthyneaway (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Iniesta (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Prominent, jumped left and bumped 2nd, slow 3rd and lost place next, slow 4th and ridden along, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 33l behind Game Line (10-11) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Goldslinger (FR) 7-2jfav (11-6) Led to 2nd, led again 4th to 6th, in touch, led again before 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression with front pair between last 2, 3rd of 8, 11 3/4l behind Noble Saffron (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Brown Bear (IRE) 9-1 (12-4) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced by front pair 2 out, ridden and stayed on to take narrow 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Black Anthem (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Catch My Drift (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Prominent on inside, led briefly after 12th, driven after 4 out, ridden and unable to go with front pair after next, no danger after, 3rd of 11, 12 1/4l behind Doitforjoe (12-0) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Agent Westy (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, lost place and behind 9th, headway 4 out, outpaced after next, soon beaten, 5th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Noble Saffron (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Shimba Hills 12-1 (10-10) Chased front pair to before 5 out, soon behind, tailed off 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Noble Saffron (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Kingston Mimosa 6-1 (10-0) Always in rear, no chance from 12th, 6th of 10, dist behind Gentleman Moore (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
