tracked leader, led 4th, hard pressed from 2 out, ridden and kept on well flat
hit 4th, always behind
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, challenged 3 out, every chance next, ridden and kept on until no extra flat
mid-division, lost place 3rd, ridden and kept on from 2 out, never nearer
never better than mid-division
led to 4th, chased leaders, ridden and no impression approaching 2 out
in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten
never better than mid-division
raced keenly in touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 5th, effort 2 out, ridden and no impression when hung left flat
held up, always towards rear
behind, mistake 3rd, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, never troubled leaders
Hard to escape the claims of Sakenos, who gets the nod over Green Finger, while Finnegans Rainbow and Shamrock Bay are others worth noting for each-way support. Shamrock Bay showed flashes of ability on the Flat last year and can give the Elite Racing Club plenty of fun at this sort of level. He does need to improve on what he has shown so far though and this may just be part of his learning curve. Finnegans Rainbow ran a solid race when finishing third to Wiggy Smith here in June and will be a big danger if he is in the same frame of mind today. The ground should not inconvenience him and he looks the best option for each-way punters to consider. Green Finger is holding his form well and will be a tough nut to crack if he runs to the level he showed here last month. Graham Lee knows him and the partnership look the main rivals to the selection. However, Sakenos - a Listed race winner on the Flat in Poland - appears to acclimatised to the UK and is expected to very hard to master now that he has got his act together. This trip should be ideal and it will take a very good performance from any of the rest to stop him if he is on song today.
Sakenos (POL) 11-8fav (11-5) Made all, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Jul beating Bauhaus (10-12) by 1l, 7 ran.
Colemanstown 6-1 (9-0) Always behind, 10th of 12, 19l behind Easy Laughter (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
Expected Bonus (USA) 15-2 (8-12) Mid-division and keen, ridden over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 15, 7l behind Another Con (9-1) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) frm in Jul (Flat).
Green Finger 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led 7th, made rest, ridden out flat, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Jul beating Swallow Magic (10-0) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Oniz Tiptoes (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Jumped right 1st, always behind, 12th of 16, 37l behind Nuzzle (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Finnegans Rainbow 25-1 (10-7) Led, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 8th of 13, 34l behind King's Crest (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
House Martin 25-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 5th, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Caribou (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Shamrock Bay 9-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 7th of 15, 27l behind Parsley's Return (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.