held up, headway under pressure when mistake 3 out, soon beaten
held up, headway 3 out, left 2nd last, ridden to lead last 100 yards, kept on
behind, struggling 11, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent to 11th, soon behind
chased leader, ridden, 2 lengths down when fell last
led to last, one pace under pressure
prominent, headway to lead last, headed flat, kept on
held up towards rear, blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd
Malko De Beaumont surprise a few when winning over two miles recently so must be respected as he stays this far, however HUCKLEBERRY finn-ished his race well last time and gets the vote to win again. A 10lb rise in the weights looks a bit harsh as he had to work hard to see off Alto Stratus at Hexham, however he looks the type to improve having got his head in front. Unexposed over fences after just three runs, his jockey is able to claim a valuable five pounds off his back and the partnership can land this race. Malko De Beaumont has top-weight to carry but it was a fine piece of training by his new trainer to win first time up this season over an inadequate trip at Carlisle, although it must be said that conditions played to his strengths. Lost In Normandy is not getting any better aged eleven, so a bigger danger could be Festival King if on one of his going days. Ryminster is a course and distance winner but his performances are often a little hap-hazard, whilst Beau Saddler represents last year's winning trainer Lucinda Russell. A competitive heat, but Huckleberry is taken to oblige.
Malko de Beaumont (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, led run in, stayed on strongly, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs beating Toulouse Express (10-8) by 2l, 12 ran.
Ryminster 5-1jt-fav (11-9) Towards rear, struggling 16th, never dangerous, 9th of 11, well behind Harlov (11-5) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Cash On Friday 25-1 (10-10) Behind, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Neutrino (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sept, 13 ran.
Beau Saddler 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Bauhaus (11-4) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jul, 15 ran.
Huckleberry (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Made all, stayed on well, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs beating Alto Stratus (11-6) by 5l, 12 ran.
Lost In Normandy (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, outpaced after 12, stayed on from 3 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 15l behind Runshan (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (5) sft.
Festival King (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Held up, struggling 9th, behind when blundered 13th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Desert Tommy (11-1) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Aug, 9 ran.
Greenock 3-1fav (10-6) Held up, effort approaching 9th, no impression when hampered next, soon beaten, 4th of 10, 34l behind Classic Harry (11-5) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jul.
