held up mid-division, blundered 8th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, chased leaders 11th, went 2nd 12th, lost place from 14th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, blundered 15th, lost place before 12th, weakened before 5 out
held up in touch, headwy before 11th, chased leaders next, ridden after 5 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on and always held by winner
held up towards rear, went 2nd 5 out, challenged 4 out, every chance 3 out, one pace from last
held up towards rear, jumped badly left throughout, soon detached in rear, pulled up before 11th
made all, took keen hold, pressed 4 out, jumped right last, kept on gamely run-in
held up mid-division, towards rear and reminders after 11th
tracked leader, weakened after 5 out
held up towards rear, stumbled and unseated rider on bend after 5 out, always well held
Nonrunner
A P McCoy was at his very best when forcing Calypso Bay's head in front at Market Rasen last time. The five-year-old is 7lb higher here but is lightly raced over fences and can't be discounted. Stablemate Sea Wall still looks too high in the weights, however, while Bold Perk has rocketed up the handicap lately and will struggle to win again off his current mark. Ffos Las third Plunkett may be better over shorter so a tentative vote goes to ALESANDRO MANTEGNA, who is back on a winning mark and seems to need this longer trip nowadays. He was bang in contention over 2m7f at Stratford two runs ago when unseating his rider and appeared to find 2m5f too sharp at Uttoxeter next time.
Cootehill (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, hit 1st, headway 17th, mistake next, hit 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 28l behind Pilgrims Lane (10-12) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Sea Wall 7-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 7th, pushed along 10th, ridden and effort 4 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 7, 30l behind Shadow Dancer (11-4) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sep.
Ripalong Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Cygnet (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Sep.
Calypso Bay (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Held up in rear, slow 2nd, not fluent 5th, headway 11th, hard ridden after 4 out, headway under pressure after next, led last, all out, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating The Ferbane Man (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Plunkett (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in 4th, went 3rd 9th, not fluent 4 out, ridden after next, soon beaten, 3rd of 5, 25l behind Cullahill (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Towards rear, not fluent when hampered 6th, headway 10th, ridden after 10th, went 3rd when hit 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 10, 25l behind Benbane Head (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Sep.
Bold Perk (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Mistake 1st, led to 2nd tracked winner, ridden after 13th, lost place 3 out (usual 4 out), soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Rowdy Rampage (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Aug.
Midnight Gold 25-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 16, 19l behind Haldibari (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Persian Run (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led until 2nd, tracked leader until mistake 10th, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Gan On (10-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Aug.
Baily Storm (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, under pressure before 4 out, soon weakened, moderate 4th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Chapolimoss (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug, 5 ran.
Backfromthecongo (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, lost place after 5th, pushed along 9th, in rear from 12th, weakened before next, 4th of 5, 31l behind Shammy Buskins (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
