held up in touch, chased winner after 4 out until weakened from 2 out
tracked leaders and mistakes, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
held up, headway when mistake 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, pushed along after 6th, chased winner from 2 out, no impression
with leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake 7th, led 4 out, clear next, eased flat
made most until 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, kept on from next, never dangerous
Nonrunner
An open look to this opener, and with Peters Star not wanting the ground too soft we'll take a chance on stablemate ORIGINAL FLY. Donald McCain trains both of them, and Original Fly has clearly had his problems since comfortably beaten here almost two years ago. Prior to that he had won from a similar mark over 2m 4f at Aintree, and he looks to be able to handle genuine soft ground better than his stable companion. This step up in trip is not a problem, and with a recent pipe opener safely negotiated we will side with him today. Peters Star has those going concerns, but otherwise he stays well and has course winning form, so he cannot be dismissed with stacks of confidence. Manadam is back on a handy mark and will relish the cut underfoot, so watch the market for clues to his chance, while last year's winner Solway Minstrel looks likely to go well without repeating that success, given his current mark and recent profile. Stick Together should improve for his reappearance and the return to this trip, and could have a major say this time around, but we will take a chance on Original Fly.
Manadam (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Blundered and dropped rear 2nd, soon lost touch, tailed off when blundered 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Snowy (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Original Fly (FR) 6-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden approaching 6th, weakened after next, 8th of 13, 44l behind Tarkani (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Cripsey Brook 7-2fav (10-2) Behind, mistake 5th, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 22l behind Soubriquet (10-4) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar '08.
Stick Together 3-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along after 6th, soon outpaced, rallied after 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Ballygulleen (10-4) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct.
Peters Star (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, reminders 6th, ridden to chase leaders approaching last, kept on same pace, no impression flat, 3rd of 10, 26l behind Zaffarella (11-6) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Cute N You Know It 4-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, led 15th until fell 4 out, in a race won by Nicozetto (10-7) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in May, 8 ran.
Wotchalike (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Towards rear, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 36l behind Heez A Steel (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Aug.
Solway Minstrel 5-1 (11-7) Narrow leader, raced keenly, ridden and headed after 3 out, beaten when jumped left last, kept trying flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Orchard King (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
