mid-division, headway 3 out, effort next, ridden and weakened flat
mid-division, lost place 5th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, mistake and lost place 4th, no impresion from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, stayed on well flat nearer finish
chased leader, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up, driven and outpaced 3 out, no impression when mistake and unseated rider next
chased leaders, driven and lost place 2 out, soon weakened
steady start, always behind, pulled up before 2 out
led, hit 2 out, ridden and mistake last, headed and no extra flat
tracked leader, challenged when not fluent 5th, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, no impression when mistake last
in touch, headway when hit 3 out, ridden to go second next, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, all out
Fu Manchu gets the vote here ahead of Lobengula, Purple Dancer, Double Ells and Ivana Illyich. Tony McCoy on Fu Manchu is interesting, and he holds claims on his Stratford third three runs ago. Much as he has disappointed in his last two starts, we will give him another chance. Nine-furlong Flat winner Lobengula is lightly raced and could be interesting over hurdles, while Purple Dancer showed some promise over 10 furlongs on the Flat and is in good hands for his jumping career. Wolf Hammer regressed on the Flat in the summer and is tried in blinkers on his hurdling debut, but Graham Lee is taking the ride on Malcolm Jefferson's Double Ells. Esquillon was plating class on the Flat, although he did stay two miles, which is in his favour, while Ivana Illyich showed some promise behind Finland on her debut and this is a modest race. Overall, though, we will select Fu Manchu.
Fu Manchu 9-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, weakening when mistake 7th, no chance when carried out 2 out in race won by Patman Du Charmil (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Oct, 15 ran.
Hamburg Springer (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 15, 18l behind Patman Du Charmil (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Purple Dancer (FR) 14-1 (8-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, edged right, one pace towards finish, 2nd of 19, 3l behind Leslingtaylor (8-8) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (6) gs in Sept (Flat).
Rockpiler 16-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Our Choice (9-0) at Catterick 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Sept (Flat).
Wolf Hammer (USA) 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders far side to over 2f out, soon weakened, 16th of 19, 15l behind Brut (8-7) at Thirsk 6f app mdn hcp 0-80 (5) gd in Jul (Flat).
Double Ells Yaheeb filly, full sister to winning hurdler Mrs Jodi.
Esquillon 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, lost place after 5th, no danger after, 9th of 17, 31l behind Finland (10-12) at Haydock 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Queen Nefitari 33-1 (10-5) Always behind, 12th of 15, well behind Vocative (10-0) at Haydock 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gs.