held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway when not fluent next, shaken up 2 out, no extra flat
held up in mid-division, mistake 5th, pulled up before next
led, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, outpaced before 2 out, soon beaten, no impression
chased leader until 3rd, lost place before 5th, weakening when hit 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out until last, stayed on same pace, lost 3rd post
chased leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, every chance when not much room before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, outpaced 3 out, weakened before 2 out
behind, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, headway on outside 2 out, jumped right last, hung right flat, kept on, went 3rd post
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, outpaced before 2 out, rallied between last 2, went 2nd last, stayed on, led last stride
mid-division, headway 5th, led before 2 out, mistake last, headed last stride
Red Force One and Fair Mountain are closely matched on their 1-2 here in July with both having only raced once since. They should be thereabouts again as subsequent winners Brandon Castle and Highly Prized were fourth and fifth respectively that day and have also been raised in the weights. The latter was just beaten at Stratford earlier this month and was five lengths ahead of Dino Velvet. Swaffham Bulbeck has got his act together but, like Marine One and Pisgah Pike, is aiming much higher in this. Last year’s second Earlofthecotswolds and Strong Glance lack a recent run but BEYOND THE CLOUDS, despite some indifferent jumps, easily beat a subsequent scorer at Uttoxeter five weeks ago. Lightly raced for his age, he could be capable of defying another 6lb rise.
Beyond The Clouds 7-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, smooth headway between horses to lead 2 out, ridden last, ran on well run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Flashing Glance (11-3) by 1l, 5 ran.
Highly Prized 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 2 out, went 2nd final bend, every chance flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Jamacho (10-9) at Stratford 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Brandon Castle 12-1 (8-8) Tracked leader, led over 9f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 17, 6l behind Euchen Glen (9-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Sep.
Earlofthecotswolds (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, switched right and headway when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 20, 36 1/4l behind Imperial Aura (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Zambella (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Held up in last pair, outpaced 2 out, no threat after, plugged on, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Song For Someone (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Fair Mountain (GER) 66-1 (10-3) Slight mistake 1st, soon tracked leaders on outer, pushed along after 3 out, no extra approaching 2 out, 11th of 19, 35 1/2l behind Aramon (11-10) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Jul.
Dino Velvet (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 2 out, headway off final bend, went 3rd last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Jamacho (10-9) at Stratford 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Swaffham Bulbeck (IRE) 10-11fav (11-10) Prominent, led after omitted 3 out, not fluent 2 out, pushed out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (3) gf in Sep beating Golden Town (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Red Force One 5-1 (8-10) Held up rear of mid-division, raced keenly, pushed along and effort over 3f out, no impression 2f out, 6th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Island Brave (9-2) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Strong Glance 1-5fav (11-2) Always chasing winner, every chance before 2 out, soon pushed along and beaten, eased flat, 2nd of 4, 32l behind Baron De Midleton (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) hvy in Mar.
Marine One 4-6fav (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, mistake 5th, went 2nd when mistake 3 out, challenged 2 out, led and 1/2 length ahead when left well clear last, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) gd in Aug beating Ask Henry (11-5) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pisgah Pike (IRE) 1-2fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3rd, clear before last, very easily, won at Hexham 2m mdn (4) gd in Sep beating Small Present (11-0) by 13l, 15 ran.
