prominent, pushed along and outpaced approaching 6th, ridden approaching 4 out, outpaced next, stayed on from 2 out, no impression
prominent, weakened 4 out
held up, headway to track leaders approaching 4 out, led on bit 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish
held up, blundered 5th, pushed along approaching next, weakened after 4 out
held up in touch, headway 5 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, kept on, no impression from last
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 4 out
held up in touch, hit 4 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, joined leader 6th, hit 4 out, weakened approaching next
October Mist, Tynedale and Big-And-Bold look the three to concentrate on here and we will side with the first named. Keith Reveley trains October Mist who returned from a five month break to land a competitive event at Doncaster and can follow up this afternoon in what appears to be a slightly weaker event. Tynedale is a pretty consistent performer and was successful at Kelso in November. Nowadays he is probably a better horse over a longer trip but he cannot easily be ruled out in this company. Big-And-Bold won the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse back in 2002, beating the 143 rated Harbour Pilot. If he still has 75 percent of that ability he will go close here, but he has a long absence to overcome and so is best watched this afternoon. Bottom-weight Longstone Lass may do best of the rest but for the winner we return to October Mist.
Tynedale (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, outpaced 2 out, no impression, 5th of 13, 4l behind Texas Holdem (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Nov.
October Mist (IRE) 22-1 (9-5) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, went 2nd next, ridden approaching last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, all out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Nov beating Hernando's Boy (10-11) by a hd, 9 ran.
Euro American (GER) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, never a factor, 8th of 15, 26l behind Down's Folly (10-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf in Dec.
Tandava (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 5th of 11, well behind Nine De Sivola (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec.
Fred's In The Know 28-1 (11-4) Held up and keen, blundered 3rd, well beaten when fell at the last in race won by Star Member (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Big-And-Bold (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway 10th to chase leaders, effort 4 out, outpaced before next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Valley Henry (11-10) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Apr '02.
Roobihoo (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Mid-division, lost place 8th, soon behind, 13th of 18, well behind Russian Sky (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec.
Simply Mystic 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression, 5th of 18, 17l behind Russian Sky (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec.
Celtic Blaze (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Held up in rear when fell at the 8th in race won by Mighty Matters (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (E) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Longstone Lass 4-1 (10-3) In touch, led 3rd, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Jethro Tull (9-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Nov.
