held up in touch, went 3rd after 3 out, weakened approaching next, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression
held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, clear approaching next, easily
led, hit 4th, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 7th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, one pace
held up mid-division, ridden 7th, soon weakened, pulled up after 3 out
held up in rear, headway and blundered 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out until jumped slowly, soon weakened
tracked leaders, chased winner after 3 out, weakened approaching next
Choctaw Nation won when last seen at this course and BENMADIGAN was a comfortable winner at Worcester last time out, whilst Darksideofthemoon is likely to pose the biggest danger after a solid victory here last year. Benmadigan comes here in good form and Nicky Richards has a reasonable record here. The eight-year-old gelding has won a quarter of races he has participated in and he makes the most appeal in an interesting line-up. Choctaw Nation has won already here this year and will appreciate the step-up in trip. Darksideofthemoon raced lazily last time but cannot afford to against this competition so we swerve him here. However he has to be respected given the fact he won last time even though he didn't perform to the best of his ability. Deadline could offer each-way value having shown a couple of decent runs over the hurdles before but he will need to come back from a break with a bang to challenge here. Benmadigan gets the vote.
Darksideofthemoon (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway approaching 7th, travelling well before 2 out, closed on leader last, led flat, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Aug beating Amalfi Coast (10-2) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Benmadigan (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up, headway before 5th, went 2nd before 3 out, hung right soon after, not clear run just before 2 out, switched left last, soon led, edged right flat, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun beating Paddleyourowncanoe (10-13) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Sea Cliff (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in 4th, not fluent 5th and 8th, smooth headway to 3rd before 4 out, ridden and weakened soon after next, eased, tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Michigan Assassin (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Tout Regulier (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, hit 4th, headed after 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 7, 28l behind Knar Mardy (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Deadline (UAE) 14-1 (10-4) In touch, headway to 2nd at 84th, challenged 4 out, still every chance and ridden 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Muntami (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) In touch, driven and weakened 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Spare Me (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May, 10 ran.
Goldan Jess (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up in touch,chased winner going to 2 out, no impression approaching last, 7th of 14, 23l behind Maska Pony (10-11) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Tifoso (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway on inside after 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 6th of 8, 29l behind Ashmolian (9-9) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Choctaw Nation 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, stayed on well flat, cajoled along to lead near finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun beating Everaard (10-10) by hd, 13 ran.
Bold Policy (IRE) 10-3fav (10-13) Took keen hold, in touch in last, headway 7th, soon challenging, led after 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon headed, not fluent and rider unbalanced last, beaten after, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Vintage Fabric (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
