disputed 2nd, slow 8th, led 4 out, headed narrowly and badly hampered next and nearly fell, lost all chance, eased
disputed 2nd, headway to lead narrowly when jumped sharply left 3 out, joined last, ridden and asserted towards finish(cross fence omitted)
close up in 4th, headway 2 out, joined winner next, every chance until ridden towards finish
led, not fluent 4th, ridden and headed 4 out, kept on same pace
Withdrawn
This looks between CORNERSTONE LAD and Pay The Piper. The former won the Fighting Fifth over hurdles here back in 2019 and having finished second in all three outings over fences so far, Micky Hammond’s charge may edge this. The latter drops back down in both class and trip and Brian Hughes takes over the reins but the remainder all race from out of the handicap with The Mouse Doctor and Democratic Oath debuting over fences and preferred to Coole Well.
Cornerstone Lad 5-4 (11-8) Led, pushed along and headed when mistake 3 out, battled back to lead briefly before last, outpaced flat and no extra, 2nd of 3, 3 3/4l behind Fransham (10-11) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Pay The Piper (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden after 3 out, stayed on one pace, never on terms, 3rd of 4, 7 3/4l behind Bravemansgame (11-5) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov.
The Mouse Doctor (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Chased clear leader, closer in 4th halfway, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden and no extra, 9th of 10, 12 1/4l behind New Society (8-13) at Fairyhouse 1m 5f hcp gf in Jun.
Democratic Oath (IRE) 2-1fav (12-1) Mid-division, headway 3 out, landed awkwardly 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 30 1/2l behind Bollingerandkrug (11-1) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Coole Well (IRE) 8-15fav (11-5) Chased leader before taking it up after 2nd, asserted after 2 out, driven flat, eased towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Aug beating Larch Hill (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
