in touch, not fluent 5th, weakening when hit 3 out
with leader, led 3rd, headed approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, led just before last, driven out
prominent, took keen hold, driven and lost place before 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in touch in rear, pulled hard, headway after 5th, led before next, ridden and edged left approaching 2 out, headed when blundered badly last, beaten after
held up in rear, hit 4th, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish
led until 3rd, lost place 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 6th, weakened 3 out
WILLIAM BUTLER is undoubtedly better than he showed when a well held fourth at Stratford on his most recent start in June but that was his third run in a short space of time and, having been given a break since then, he looks worth siding with to resume winning ways. Tim Vaughan's Carrick Oscar has been hard to win with in recent outings over fences and could do better back over hurdles, especially in this grade, but he is hard to back on recent form. David Bridgwater's Hi Wycombe ran well in this grade when second to Liberty Seeker at Market Rasen last time and has claims but needs to improve to trouble the selection and a bigger threat is likely to come from Richard Newland's High Skies, who is a consistent performer in this grade.
High Skies 5-2 (11-4) Towards rear, not fluent 6th, pushed along after 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd last, never nearer, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Zafar (11-12) at Southwell 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Carrick Oscar (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 13th, effort 3 out, ridden to challenge next, kept on and every chance until one pace flat, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Rifleman (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Hi Wycombe (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, led 5th, not fluent last, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Liberty Seeker (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sell (4) gd.
Knightsbridgelives (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) In rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Herschel (11-2) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gf in Jul.
William Butler (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, headway when not fluent 8th, chased winner 3 out, no impression 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 17l behind Oscar Royal (10-5) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Jun.
Zizou (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up, mistake 3rd, last 6th, some headway after 3 out, no impression, 7th of 11, 17l behind Strumble Head (10-13) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
Lady Romanov (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) In touch, reminders 3rd, ridden 8th, behind when blundered and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Flashy Conquest (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
