in touch, pecked 4th, close up 4 out, ridden 3 out, one pace
held up, headway after 4 out, one pace
led, headed 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden, weakened 3 out
held up, headway 6th, ridden, every chance 2 out, plugged on
in rear, brief effort after 4 out
in touch, led 2 out, ridden last, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened
soon in touch, weakened 2 out
held up, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, pluggged on
Barton Sun is well treated on his chase form and Ferdy Murphy's gelding has to be respected off his light weight but he will need to improve on previous form over timber to trouble the in-form Brousse En Feux, who gets the vote with Red Sun rated the pick of the remainder. The selection has done little wrong this term, was good value for her win here last time and David Pipe's filly is taken to defy the 7lb penalty and win again. Alan Bailey's Andorran is probably better over further, while Etendard Indien has not been seen since May but has slipped to a decent mark now and cannot be ruled out. Gay Kelleway's Red Sun is more exposed than most of these but is more than capable of taking a hand if on a going day. Brousse En Feux has plenty in her favour though and she is preferred.
Brousse En Feux (FR) 2-1fav (11-2) Held up, headway after 4 out, led 2 out, driven out flat, won at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gs beating Heebie Jeebie (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Joli Classical (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Always behind, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Sarin (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Red Sun 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 5th, led after 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened, 6th of 13, 26l behind Roaringwater (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hdl (3) gd.
Desert Spa (USA) 100-1 (10-13) Prominent, ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 12, 22l behind Country Escape (11-6) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Indian Star (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, good headway when hit 3 out, effort approaching next, weakened, 8th of 16, 26l behind Panjo Bere (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Andorran (GER) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakening when blundered next, 10th of 17, well behind Kingscourt Lad (10-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gf.
Croon 14-1 (11-8) Held up, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 12, 36l behind Palomar (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Etendard Indien (FR) 3-1jt-fav (11-1) Towards rear, ridden and effort 3 out, weakened 2 out, behind, 7th of 9, well behind Super Sensation (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Rhetoric (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division and keen, joined leader 2nd, ridden 3 out, hampered 2 out, weakened, 7th of 15, 31l behind Brousse En Feux (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f amt nov hcp hdl (5) gs.
Barton Sun (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Prominent, effort 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened, 6th of 8, 9l behind Blast The Past (11-1) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Mondial Jack (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Held up, hampered 4th, hard ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 11, 22l behind Sou'wester (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
