tracked leaders, outpaced 9th, kept on no impression from 3 out
held up, headway 6th, kept on same pace from 3 out, no impression
with leaders, hit 2nd, lost place next, kept on to chase winner from last, no impression
in touch, took close order 4th, lost place from 7th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, blundered 4th, soon lost place, ridden 9th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leader and keen, hampered 4th, led 10th, clear 4 out, kept on strongly
in rear, blundered 1st, headway 5th, prominent when fell 7th
Nonrunner
Mandica has to race off a 9lb higher mark than when scoring at Uttoxeter when last seen in April so Tom George's gelding looks worth taking on after such a long absence with preference for Lake Merced, who gets the vote ahead of Darina's Boy. The last mentioned has a fitness advantage over many of his rivals but was disappointing when well held behind the admittedly useful Darkness at Uttoxeter earlier this month and may be best watched off his current mark. Full On has not been seen since January, while Balladeer is difficult to catch right and does not look to be the most straightforward of horses. Top weight Beat The Heat has claims on the pick of his form but may not find it easy to concede 7lbs to Lake Merced, who only scrambled home at Worcester last month but remains unexposed over fences and could be open to more improvement.
Beat The Heat (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden 9th, weakened after next, 6th of 12, 18l behind Dead-Eyed Dick (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Sept.
Balladeer (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Prominent, good headway when blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Detonateur (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (D) gd, 9 ran.
Iris's Prince 33-1 (10-5) Always well behind, never dangerous, 6th of 10, well behind Bushido (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov chs (D) gf in Sept.
Lake Merced (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Wise Tale (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Sept, 12 ran.
Mandica (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 8th, ridden 4 out, led last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Apr beating Miss Wizadora (10-5) by 8l, 8 ran.
Full On 3-1 (11-5) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 4th of 10, 19l behind Clever Thyne (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (E) gd in Jan.
Darina's Boy 11-2 (11-4) Prominent, ridden 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, left poor 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 9, well behind Darkness (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f beg chs (E) gd.
Ashwell (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened when fell at the last in race won by Gingerbread House (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gs in Mar '04, 15 ran.
