chased leaders, 2nd 5th until 9th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
made all, guessed at 4th, jumped left 9th, jumped left and hit 2 out, kept on well, ridden out, unchallenged
held up in 4th, slight stumble 2nd, mistake 5th, blundered and weakened 10th, behind and pulled up before the last
chased winner until 5th, chased leaders, 2nd again 10th, one pace and no chance with winner
took keen hold, held up last, awkward 2nd, blundered 4th, headway chasing leaders 7th, 2nd 8th, went left next, blundered and lost 2nd 10th, handy 3rd, weakening when went left 2 out and last, hung right run-in
A tight handicap, despite the small field. Pemba was only beaten a short-head last time at Sedgefield and Spoilt Rotten was closing on the leaders when falling on the final circuit at Stratford. Mccabe Creek has only found one too good in three of his five starts for Caroline Bailey but MISS SPENT (NAP) is preferred. Dan Skelton’s mare tackles fences for the first time in public but she’s a half-sister to useful chaser Oscar Rock, will have had plenty of schooling and hasn’t done a lot wrong over hurdles for current connections. Matchaway also makes his chasing bow but may find the ground too quick.
Matchaway (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 35l behind Destiny's Gold (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
McCabe Creek (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind King Alfonso (11-2) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Miss Spent (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, headed narrowly last, soon ridden, one pace flat, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 8, 6l behind Poetic Lady (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Pemba (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Led, reminders stable bend, ridden before 2 out, pressed before last, kept on and headed post, 2nd of 5, shd behind Ashoka (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Spoilt Rotten 3-1fav (11-9) Held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 1st or 8th, beginning to close when fell 3 out, at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Sep.