chased clear leader, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened
led, clear 2nd, headed 3 out, gradually weakened
held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching last, driven out
held up, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, kept on under pressure, never on terms
tracked clear leader, led 3 out, soon challenged, ridden, headed approaching last, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten
held up, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge next, stayed on well, not pace of winner
always behind
held up, mistake 5th, soon outpaced, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace
Silivri arguably has the best form of those to have raced previously over hurdles having found just one too good at Bangor last time and has to be respected but Levera is an interesting newcomer and Alan King's gelding is taken to make a winning debut over timber, with the main threat among the remainder rated as Pride of Mine. The last mentioned has progressed from bumper-company and was in the process of running a reasonable race at Worcester on only his second start over hurdles last time before unseating her rider at the final flight. She makes more appeal than David Wintle's Road To Recovery, who remains a maiden after 15 starts and has given little real sign for encouragement. Brendan Powell's Mystic Storm makes his debut over timber having been disappointing in recent starts on the level and may do better at the winter game but is hard to back with any confidence given his flat form of late. The vote then goes to Alan King's Levera, who may have lost his way on the flat of late but was rated at 107 at his best last year and he may be too classy for his rivals.
Ben Bacchus (IRE) 20-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 20l behind Squirtle (8-10) at Thirsk 2m hcp 0-65 (6) sft (Flat).
Crazy Bold (GER) 100-1 (10-7) Behind, ridden 2 out, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 29l behind Southern Regent (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd.
Levera 66-1 (8-13) Led for 1f, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, 16th of 17, 19l behind Gulf Express (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcap (2) gd in Jul (Flat).
Malibu (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 14, well behind Gurteenoona (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Mystic Storm 16-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, no headway from 2f out, 5th of 10, 15l behind Olimpo (9-9) at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) gd (Flat).
Shahnameh (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 5th, 13th of 15, well behind Fantastisch (10-4) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun '07.
Enlist 100-1 (10-10) Not jump well, tracked leaders, lost place 4th, soon behind, terrible blunder last, 12th of 13, well behind Sky Calling (10-7) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Muraco 16-1 (9-12) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 14, 11l behind Kings Topic (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol (Flat).
Putra Laju (IRE) 6-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, effort 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 22l behind Arctic Desert (10-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Jul (Flat).
Road To Recovery 20-1 (10-10) In touch, keen, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 15, well behind Pips Assertive Way (10-11) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Pride of Mine 5-2fav (10-12) In touch, outpaced 5th, rallied approaching 2 out, every chance when unseated rider at the last in race won by Lady Traill (10-10) at Worcester 2m mrs mdn hdl (5) gf in Jul, 11 ran.
Silivri 9-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon every chance, one pace approaching last, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Nakoma (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
