always behind, hampered 5th, hit 4 out, pulled up before next
held up in touch, when fell 5th
led, headed out of 4th, pushed along approaching 8th, soon weakened
with leader, led after 4th, headed 3 out, one pace from next
held up, badly hampered 5th, pulled up before next
mid-division, in 4th when blundered 3 out, soon pushed along, no impression from next
tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear when blundered 2 out, stayed on well
held up towards rear, hit 2nd, headway 9th, ridden next, no impression
Kind Sir is set to go up 3lbs in future handicaps following another good display at Stratford last time and is taken to make the most of the favourable terms with Benrajah and Giorgio rated the main dangers. The selection has shown a consistent level of form in his last two starts and again has ground conditions to suit. Top weight Marked Man still looks to be in the grip of the handicapper and of more interest may be Martin Todhunter's Benrajah, who can go well when fresh but may be a shade high in the weights at present. Mullensgrove has more to do under a 7lb penalty than when winning at Aintree last time in a race where the favourite departed when seemingly in command. The Pennys Dropped has an absence to overcome and may be best watched so a bigger threat may come from Giorgio, who is 6lbs higher than when scoring at Wetherby but is going the right way. The vote though goes to Kind Sir, who is taken to make the most of the favourable terms.
Marked Man (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Held up, blundered 7th, mistake 8th, headway 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 7, 30l behind Spring Margot (10-12) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in May.
Farlington 11-2 (11-9) Led, mistake 7th, soon headed, stayed prominent, blundered badly 16th, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 44l behind Home James (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) gs in Feb.
Benrajah (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Led 2nd, made rest, ridden approaching last, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gf in Apr beating Duchamp (11-8) by 8l, 11 ran.
Giorgio (IRE) 9-4 (10-5) Made all, ran on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gf in May beating Galway Breeze (10-7) by 6l, 4 ran.
Mullensgrove 9-1 (10-3) Held up, mistake and reminder 5th, hit 12th, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, ridden out, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd beating Noshinannikin (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
The Pennys Dropped (IRE) 13-8 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 11th, hit 4 out, jumped left 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Aug beating Croc An Oir (11-0) by 6l, 4 ran.
Kind Sir 3-1fav (11-3) With leader, led 4th, headed 3 out, ran on flat, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Calon Lan (9-8) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd.
Romany Dream 2-1fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, staying on in close 3rd when fell 2 out in race won by French Direction (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in May, 9 ran.
