held up in rear, closed on outside when pecked slightly 3 out, every chance 2 out, 3rd and held last, no extra flat
chased leader, not fluent 5th, mistake 3 out, rider lost rein briefly and veered left, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along briefly after 4th, pushed along again before not much room briefly after 3 out, led 2 out, awkward last, driven out
led, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat
held up in rear, awkward 1st, ridden and weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, challenged after 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
NonRunner
Astroman was only fourth when Ben Lilly got off the mark over track and trip 10 days ago but the latter was beaten 25 lengths in this last year and doesn’t look an easy ride. FORTUNATE FRED appeared to last home tried over course and distance in August. That was his handicap debut over timber so there may be more to come, though this looks wide open. Mactavish was making up ground hand over first when third behind Wot You Wearing over 3m at Uttoxeter, though that pair are closely matched with Coal Fire on collateral form. Best Mate Dave failed by only a neck to complete a double at Worcester in August.
Ben Lilly (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-9) Midfield but well in touch, raced wide on first circuit, travelled best when tracking leaders after 3 out, upsides when bad mistake 2 out, lost very little momentum and led before last, asserted and always doing enough closing stages, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Sep beating Honey I'm Good (11-8) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Astroman 5-1 (11-8) Led, set steady tempo, joined before 4th, headed after 4 out, dropped to third and outpaced by front pair before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and just denied third final strides, 4th of 6, 6 1/4l behind Ben Lilly (11-9) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Sep.
Coal Fire (IRE) 4-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, no impression on winner, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Classic Concorde (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Fortunate Fred (FR) 22-1 (11-5) Held up off the pace towards rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden and stayed on in 4th run-in, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Lelantos (12-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Wot You Wearing (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, jumped right and challenged last, led towards finish, just prevailed, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep beating Jack The Farmer (11-9) by ns, 13 ran.
Mactavish 20-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 2 out, switched right flat, stayed on well, just failed, 3rd of 13, shd behind Wot You Wearing (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Best Mate Dave 9-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, jumped left 3rd, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, hard ridden flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Classic Concorde (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
