made most, driven when joined approaching last, headed narrowly flat, kept on, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, never on terms, weakened next
never better than mid-division, behind from 4th, tailed off
in touch, chased front pair before 2 out, driven and stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, upsides approaching last, driven to lead narrowly flat, stayed on towards finish
close up on outside to 2nd, mid-division, lost place 4 out, behind from next, soon pulled up
mistake 2nd, always behind, struggling 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, driven after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never threatened leaders
held up, always behind, weakened 2 out
chased leaders to before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before next
disputed lead to before 3rd, tracked leader, driven and lost place before 2 out, weakened last
towards rear, headway 4 out, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
CAPITOUL is clearly not the force of old and was readily brushed aside by Clearance at Stratford when long odds-on. But he is still favoured by the weights in this so gets a tentative vote. Skeaping trounced Throckley at Southwell last month but has since left Gordon Elliott’s yard. Ballyellis must have a chance dropping into this grade for the first time but Vancouver looks thoroughly exposed and Cosmic King has a bit to prove now.
Skeaping 5-6fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led before next where not fluent, driven clear between last 2, mistake last, driven out, comfortably, won at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Jul beating Throckley (10-12) by 14l, 10 ran.
Cosmic King (FR) 9-5 (11-0) Always in rear, well beaten after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Vancouver 6-1 (11-10) Not that fluent and jumped right, in rear, remote 4th 4 out, went 3rd from last, 3rd of 6, 23l behind Utility (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Ballyellis (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Jumped left at times, led, not fluent 3 out, headed next, weakened final 75 yards, 5th of 9, 3l behind Do You Know What (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Capitoul (FR) 2-9fav (11-0) Led, ridden and headed last, no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Clearance (11-0) at Stratford 2m (5) gs in Aug.
It's Buster (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Not that fluent in rear, behind 8th, well tailed off 4 out, pulled up after, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Luduamf (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always in rear, 9th of 12, dist behind Youracert (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Aug.
Tempuran 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, lost place 3 out, 7th of 12, 13l behind Something Brewing (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Throckley 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged before next, soon ridden and outpaced, no chance with winner between last 2, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Skeaping (11-3) at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Avlos 40-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 12, dist behind Youracert (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Aug.
Sunhill Lad (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Led after 1st until ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened quickly on long run before last, tailed off when mistake last, 6th of 11, 31 3/4l behind Rukwa (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jul.
Sin Sin (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, stayed on into 4th, never a threat, 4th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Oksana (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Aug.