raced keenly tracking leaders hit 5th, ridden and no extra run-in
held up in rear, headway when bad mistake out wide and nearly unseated rider 3 out, no chance after
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led next, ridden between last two, stayed on gamely run-in to assert final 100 yards
raced keenly and always towards rear
led, flattened 2 out and headed, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened last
tracked leaders on inside, ridden before last, stayed on in 3rd run-in, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway tracking leaders 4 out, every chance last, no extra run-in
raced wide towards rear, weakened before 2 out
raced keenly, held up in last pair, good headway on inside tracking leaders before 2 out, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and every chance run-in, found no extra final 100 yards
MATCHLESS is fit from racing on the Flat and finished runner-up at Kelso when last seen over hurdles back in May. He finished in front of a couple of subsequent winners on that occasion and can race off a similar mark today. Cuban Cigar has had a spin on the Flat since finishing second at Perth while Theatre Legend went close at Sedgefield last month. Colonial Empire, Voix Du Reve and Scots Poet will all be sharper for recent comeback runs with the former preferred on last season’s form.
Collingham (GER) 33-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, no impression on leaders before last, 7th of 20, 22 1/4l behind Punctuation (11-5) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 14-1 (11-13) Prominent, keen when closed on leaders after 2nd, led 5th, pushed along when headed between final two flights, dropped to fourth before final flight, weakened run-in, just held on to position when faced challenge final strides, 4th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Russian Virtue (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Matchless (IRE) 10-3 (10-2) Led early, headed after 2f, remained prominent, pushed along 3f out, gradually weakened, 4th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Flash Bardot (9-3) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
The Churchill Lad (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace from next, 5th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Cianciana (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Theatre Legend 40-1 (12-1) Led narrowly, forged 2 lengths ahead and ridden after 2 out, kept on, headed final strides, 2nd of 11, nk behind Imperial Data (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Colonial Empire 18-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and gradually tailed off after 4 out, 11th of 14, dist behind Pyramid Place (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Cuban Cigar 14-1 (10-4) Very slowly away, behind, never on terms, 7th of 10, 17 1/2l behind Stockbridge Tap (10-4) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (6) hvy in Oct.
Diamond State (FR) 9-1 (11-1) Close up, led before 7th, headed before 3 out, soon outpaced and struggling, tailing off when pulled up before last, at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Scots Poet 11-2 (10-13) In rear, in touch, hit 2nd, pushed along into 4th approaching last, not fluent final flight and weakened flat, 4th of 7, 13 1/2l behind Bois Guillbert (11-10) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
