held up in touch, chased leaders 5th, weakened quickly 4 out
chased leaders, went 3rd approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up mid-division, not fluent 5th, never dangerous
always behind
mid-division, kept on after 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, never on terms
held up mid-division, no impression after 4 out
held up, headway after 4 out, went 4th 3 out, weakened approaching next
tracked leader, close up when hit 5th, weakened 4 out
held up, hit 3rd, some headway from 4 out, weakened after 3 out
held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led next, kept on well from last
held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous
mid-division, never on terms
led, headed 3 out, not fluent last, kept on
An interesting opener where we will chance THE KNOXS to take it for Howard Johnson, while Premier Sagas and Veiled Applause are among the dangers. The selection makes his British debut over a year after landing an Irish point on soft ground. Conditions will therefore suit, as should this stamina-sapping track, and he is sure to have been well prepared over these type of obstacles by his trainer, who does well at one of his local tracks, so we will suggest him. Premier Sagas won a soft ground Kelso bumper, so will also appreciate today's ground, and although he couldn't handle his penalty next time, he represents a yard going well and is likely to be very effective over timber. Grandad Bill won a 12f York handicap off a flat rating of 56 in September. He loves some cut and will see out this trip well, so is respected on his hurdling introduction. Veiled Applause makes his first appearance in this sphere since taking a crashing fall at Market Rasen in June. He has previously won a handicap hurdle off a mark of 107, and that sort of form would entitle him to be involved again this time. Tim Walford has his string in good shape, so improvement from Beamazed is anticipated, while Nocturnal Knight will also need to do that if he is to follow up last month's win under a penalty. A decent start to the card, and the suggestion is The Knoxs.
Nocturnal Knight 5-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 2f out, kept on (no time taken), won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Itstooearly (10-5) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Veiled Applause 11-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge after 3 out, upsides and every chance when fell next, in a race won by Benetwood (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jun, 5 ran.
Beamazed 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, left closer bend after 5f, ridden over 2f out, no impression but chased winner inside final f, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Any The Wiser (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m cond & am NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Froggy Lane 33-1 (10-10) Keen early, held up behind, headway halfway, outpaced 6f out, kept on under pressure final 2f, never on terms, 5th of 11, 33l behind Gunpoint (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 7-4fav (10-10) Prominent, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 3l behind Nakoma (10-1) at Newcastle 1m 4f am hcp (6) gs in Oct (flat).
Middlemarch (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, kept on from 2 out, hit last, 5th of 12, 10l behind Mesbaah (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Orkney (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) With leader, led after 4f, headed 3f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 10l behind Trip The Light (9-10) at Haydock 1m 4f app hcp (5) gd in Aug (flat).
Pegasus Prince (USA) 8-1 (8-4) In touch, tracked leaders on outer halfway, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 12l behind Chocolate Caramel (9-1) at Beverley 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jul '08 (flat).
Premier Sagas (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden well over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, 7th of 19, 14l behind Sitting Tennant (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Shady Gloom (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, soon not much room, hampered on inside over 1f out, hard driven and stayed on into 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Black Rain (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct (flat).
Si Bien (FR) 28-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders and led after 3f, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 14, 21l behind Storm Brig (10-11) at Kelso 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
The Knoxs (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Ww, prog 5out, gd prog 3out, chall 2out, qcknd well, row, won at Milltown 3m ire ptp sft in Nov '08 beating Good Man Sir (12-0) by 1l, 11 ran.
Witherspoon (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders and mistake 6th, weakened before next, 11th of 14, well behind Going Wrong (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Young Buddy 40-1 (10-12) Always in rear, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Civil Servant (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Oct.
Diklers Oscar (IRE) 6-4fav (10-2) Not fluent in rear, headway 3 out, one pace, 5th of 9, 13l behind Nordwind (11-12) at Wetherby 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gf in May.
Lisbon Lion (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Held up, every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 13l behind Beat The Shower (8-8) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct (flat).
