held up, headway 8th, led approaching 2 out, clear last, kept on well
held up, lost touch 5th, stayed on to take 3rd close home
led, jumped left 3 out, soon headed, one pace
prominent, joined leader 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
prominent until weakened 3 out, eased flat, lost 3rd close home
Alikat is a consistent performer in this grade and should appreciate the return to further but Martin Pipe's filly would not appear to be particularly well treated and preference is for Miss Shakira, who gets the vote ahead of Phar From Frosty. The selection has to race from 2lbs out of the weights proper but was good value for her win at Perth last month, the form of which has been boosted by the subsequent success of the runner-up Mr Mischief. September Moon has been running into form of late and has to be considered along with Good Man Again who ran better when reverting to hurdles last time having not really taken to the larger obstacles. Lalagune looks to face a difficult task and of more interest may be Charlie Egerton's Phar From Frosty. The eight-year-old seems to be plenty high enough in the weights at present though and a better bet looks to be the progressive Miss Shakira who is taken to follow up her Perth success.
Alikat (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Struggling from halfway, 6th of 17, 15l behind Rooftop Protest (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (B) gd in Sept.
Lalagune (FR) 33-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Prince of Persia (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
September Moon 4-1 (11-5) Led, mistake 9th, ridden after 3 out, strongly challenged approaching last, headed and no extra flat, 4th of 9, 1l behind Esters Boy (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd.
Good Man Again (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up and keen, headway approaching 10th, ridden to go 2nd 2 out, kept on not trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Midnight Creek (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m sll hdl (G) gd.
Miss Shakira (IRE) 7-2 (10-4) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, hung left next, ridden out, won at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Sept beating Mr Mischief (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Phar From Frosty (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Jumped left, led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Charango Star (11-0) at Stratford 3m nov chs (D) gd in Sept.
