disputed lead, led after 5th, pushed along and headed 3 out, no extra
close up, driven along 4 out, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, weakened and pulled up 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 4th, close up 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, hit 5th, mistake 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, no impression
towards rear, headway 4 out, driven to lead 3 out, headed run-in
pulled hard, mid-division, towards rear 5th, smooth progress 3 out, pushed along 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up midfield, ridden before 3 out, no extra 3 out
disputed lead, pushed along and headed after 5th, pulled up 2 out
towards rear, midfield 5 out, pushed along and lost position before 3 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, hit 4th, headway 3 out, mistake last, ridden to lead run-in
always in rear, never dangerous
Equus Millar and ROCK LEGEND both sport cheekpieces for the first time and the latter should give Heidi Palin a good ride around here if the headgear has the desired effect. Lock's Corner is fairly treated back over hurdles while Chives has won four of his last five and Freddie Mitchell is one of the more experienced amateurs riding in this. Une De La Seniere is a previous course and distance winner but has become very hard to place with Bangor fourth Iron Heart making more appeal. Tiger Orchid and Ballintubber Boy are both recent winners but Blenkinsop has failed to place in two previous starts here.
Grange Road (IRE) 15-8fav (12-0) Led 1st until 2nd, prominent, not fluent 5th, pushed along briefly before 9th, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
What About Time (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Raced handy, ridden before 3 out, plugged on one pace, no impression, 8th of 11, 32l behind Take Your Time (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Chives 7-2fav (12-2) Handy, pushed along before 2 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, challenged and joined final flight, stayed on well and forged ahead near finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Sinister Minister (10-6) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Une De La Seniere (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leader, hit 4 out and lost 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced in 3rd 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 7, 16l behind Sure Touch (12-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Ballintubber Boy (IRE) 11-2 (11-13) Made most, jumped badly right 7th and headed briefly, ridden 2 out, jumped right again at last when left clear, won at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Kazontherazz (12-0) by 11l, 7 ran.
Lock's Corner (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Got warm before race, last pair, ridden after 12th, mistake 3 out (water), soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 33 1/2l behind Coal Stock (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Tiger Orchid (IRE) 7-1 (11-13) In rear, not fluent 2nd, headway on outside to dispute lead 3 out, every chance last when almost upsides, soon led and ran on well flat, always holding on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) gf in Oct beating Fenney Brook (10-4) by nk, 4 ran.
Iron Heart 16-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear of mid-division, headway 7th, went 2nd after 3 out until after 2 out, no extra in 4th from last, 4th of 8, 13l behind Go Chique (11-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Welsh's Castle (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) (bl) (tt) led to 5; wknd 3 out; lft 2nd last, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Donjon (12-0) at Eyton-on-severn 3m gf in May.
Rock Legend (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Tracked clear winner until ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 11 1/2l behind Matata (10-13) at Fakenham 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Blenkinsop 2-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, slightly outpaced halfway and dropped to mid-division, shaken up 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 14 1/2l behind Fight For It (10-8) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in May.
Equus Millar (IRE) 28-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, soon beaten, 9th of 14, dist behind Masterdream (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
