not much room before 1st, held up in rear, mistakes 3rd and 6th, headway when hit 9th, challenged 15th, led 4 out, pushed along and just over 2 lengths ahead when fell 3 out
jumped right at times, led until 6th, led after 7th, not fluent 11th or 14th, headed when not fluent 4 out, left 2nd 3 out, 3rd and weakening last
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 9th, headway 13th, blundered 15th, 4th and struggling 4 out, left 3rd next, rallied after 2 out, switched left just after last, led inside final 100 yards, edged right close home, all out
jumped right at times, not much room before 1st, prominent 3rd, led and bumped 6th, headed after next, lost place 14th, well beaten from 4 out
towards rear, not much room when jumped right left 3rd, ridden 12th, behind from 14th
prominent, pecked 4 out, just over 2 lengths down when left in lead and hampered 3 out, headed inside final 100 yards, carried right and held close home
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, slow next, last and ridden 9th, behind 13th, pulled up after 15th
The front-running STRUMBLE HEAD has been enjoying a revival lately and was only caught close home by Azure Fly at Newton Abbot after grinding his rivals, including Fort Gabriel, into submission over shorter earlier at Stratford. Peter Bowen’s veteran looks the one to beat today with the trainer’s son taking off 7lb again. Jack Snipe turned in a shocker at Bangor in August when chasing a hat-trick so is best watched while Wizards Bridge lacks a recent run.
Shockingtimes (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, blundered 5 out, soon pulled up, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Strumble Head (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Jumped right, led, headed 16th, mistake 4 out and leader clear briefly, challenged 2 out, led last, headed close home, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Azure Fly (11-7) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Wizards Bridge 16-1 (12-0) Led until 1st, tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, ridden after next, no extra 2 out, 6th of 15, 13 3/4l behind Diamond Fort (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Fort Gabriel (FR) 5-2 (12-1) Jumped right 1st two circuits but better on final circuit, led until 4th, chased leader, led again 7th, clever 12th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and joined last, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Doitforjoe (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Jack Snipe 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 11th, headed narrowly after next, lost place 5 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Packettotherafters (10-0) at Bangor 3m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Velvet Cognac 28-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, reminders before 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 19l behind Brian Boranha (11-5) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Adarenna (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, moderate 13th from 4th, kept on same pace from before straight, 14th of 18, 17 3/4l behind Meadow Cross (11-6) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp gd in Sep.
