chased leaders, effort when mistake 2 out, weakened before last, tailed off, modest 3rd
tracked leaders, pushed along 14th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
behind, struggling 11th, tailed off 5 out, moderate 4th
held up in touch, went 2nd after 3rd, weakened before 5 out, pulled up next
in touch, mistake 7th, headway approaching 14th, led 4 out, mistake 2 out, drew well clear before last, easily
held up, jumped slowly throughout, hampered 5th, under pressure 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
chased leaders, weakened after 13th, pulled up before 5 out
led until 3 out, rallied after next, weakened before last, modest 2nd
Classical Milano is something of a course specialist and is starting to slowly slip down the weights again. He should be thereabouts in a race like this but BORN FOR WAR looked to have a future over fences when second at Stratford in the summer and should win this if a wind operation has had the desired effect. Knocknamona rattled up a four-timer last season but was twice tailed off racing off this mark at Market Rasen in March and hasn’t been seen since. Misfits may be the pick of the remainder ahead of Attention Please.
Born For War (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Prominent, slightly outpaced after 2 out, rallied last, held final 75 yards, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Birch Hill (11-12) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Classical Milano (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leader and clear of remainder, ridden 3 out, soon under pressure, kept on into modest 3rd, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Bafana Blue (10-5) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Knocknamona (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) With leader, in rear and lost place halfway, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Bocasien Desbois (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Attention Please (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) In rear, reminder 3rd, headway on outside 8th, lost place when not fluent 12th, left in touch 15th, 3rd and beaten from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 11 1/4l behind Cobajayisland (11-10) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Misfits (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Slowly away, mid-division after 2nd, closed 8th, 6th and no impression 2 out, 6th of 15, dist behind Cockley Beck (11-12) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Spinning Scooter 8-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, modest 6th 4 out, closed 3 out, 2nd briefly when mistake last, one pace flat, 4th of 11, 8 1/4l behind See Double You (10-9) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Eager To Know (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, never a threat, 3rd of 7, 11 3/4l behind Jaunty Thor (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Frank The Slink 11-1 (10-3) Prominent, slow 4th, soon lost place, mistake 13th, pulled up before next, at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.