mid-division, progress to chase leaders 5th, 6th and weakening when fell 3 out
chased leaders on outside, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, blundered badly 2 out
held up towards rear, progress to chase leaders after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, struggling from 4th, lost touch next, hampered 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 3 out, no impression after 2 out, stayed on comfortably to hold 2nd
made all, steadily drew well clear after 2 out, eased towards finish
took keen hold, prominent, tracked winner after 5th until before 3 out, weakened 2 out
Manhattan Boy, Charmatic and Tessanoora catch the eye here and Manhattan Boy looks well treated after a facile debut win. Nicky Henderson¿s dual hurdle winner Tessanoora was made favourite for her seasonal debut at Worcester, and although finishing second was soundly beaten. She has to concede weight to her principal rivals and it may be beyond her. Charmatic was an average ten furlong handicapper on the Flat and is thoroughly exposed but consistent. He was not too far behind Moon Over Miami on his re-appearance and justified favouritism last time. This looks tough and he may not be good enough. Manhattan Boy won four times on the Flat in Germany and had no problem getting off the mark on his debut in this country when scoring at Bangor. He drifted in the market that day but he scored in the manner that suggested there was better to come, and Manhattan Boy gets the nod.
Silk Screen (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, effort 4 out, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 28l behind Papini (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Diego Cao (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Mistake 1st, always behind, losing touch when jumped slowly 6th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Hordago (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Nov '05, 23 ran.
Tessanoora 5-6fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to chase winner and hit 2 out, one pace last, 2nd of 9, 9l behind O'Toole (11-9) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Proper Article (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Monsieur (10-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Charmatic (IRE) 4-9fav (11-3) Chased leader to 4th, led after 6th, drew clear last, eased flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) sft in May beating Beauchamp Star (10-10) by 5l, 6 ran.
Le Corvee (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Always behind, last of 12, well behind Sea The Light (11-8) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Widely Accepted (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, dropped to 7th 3 out, soon weakened, 17th of 25, 37l behind Josephine Cullen (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl gd in Apr.
Manhattan Boy (GER) 11-4jt-fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, ridden and hit last, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd beating Kanad (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sole Agent (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leader until ridden and weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 11l behind Dishdasha (10-12) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
L'oudon (FR) 7-2fav (11-1) Held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, 5th of 12, 8l behind O'Toole (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
