in touch, lost place 7th, tailed off approaching omitted 2 out
held up, headway to chase leaders 3rd, weakened before omitted 2 out
held up in rear, headway 6th, soon chasing leaders, driven to challenge approaching omitted last, kept on under pressure
led until approaching 5th, rallied next, weakened after omitted 2 out
held up towards rear, hit 6th, headway approaching omitted 2 out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge
keen, chased leaders, effort before omitted 2 out, soon weakened
behind, slow 2nd, headway approaching omitted 2 out, never on terms
tracked leader, led before 5th (3 out), hard driven approaching omitted last, held on well (6 hurdles omitted)
tracked leader, lost place halfway, beaten 4 out
in touch, lost place 3rd, soon towards rear, never dangerous
NonRunner
Court Baloo has been raised a further 6lb after landing a double with a victory at Hexham but is progressing well and can figure again. The same comment applies to Chocolat Noir, who won at Perth last month but Final Fling hasn’t raced since scoring at Wetherby in the January of last year. Aptly Put is not out of this either on recent placed efforts but a chance is taken on HANDY HOLLOW. The latter finished third of only four runners at Sedgefield last time but was up against better horses than these and gets the vote dropping down a grade with Lorcan Murtagh’s allowance furthering his cause.
Aptly Put (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Pressed leader, led after 3 out to after next, driven to chase winner before last, soon ridden and one pace, no chance flat, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Mega Double (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f (4) gs in Aug.
Handy Hollow (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Led, headed before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Jacks Last Hope (11-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Telson Barley (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, pulled up after 7th, at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Chocolat Noir (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-9) Made all, pushed along after omitted 2 out, clear flat, stayed on gamely, won at Perth 3m hcp (4) hvy in Sep beating Pads (10-1) by 5l, 5 ran.
Calivigny (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out, at Perth 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Temple Man 9-1 (11-11) Held up, always behind, weakened 2 out, 11th of 16, dist behind Load Up Time (11-10) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Final Fling (IRE) 10-3fav (11-13) Prominent, led 2nd, headed 3rd, chased leaders, led before 3 out, ridden before last, held on close home, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) hvy in Jan beating Ben Arthur (11-12) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Court Baloo (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Prominent, led 4 out, clear from last, ran on well, won at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Oct beating Our Nest Egg (10-13) by 2l, 9 ran.
Pinspot 11-4jfav (10-10) Chased winner, not fluent 4th, lost place before 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 5, 11l behind Chocolat Noir (11-9) at Perth 3m hcp (4) hvy in Sep.
Lawtop Legend (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd after next, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 25 1/4l behind Court Baloo (10-4) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Alto Des Mottes (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 19 1/2l behind Lovely Touch (11-9) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
