in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened last
mistake 2nd, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, headway 3 out, led soon after, challenged when slipped and unseated rider 2 out
towards rear, ridden and headway after 4 out, slightly hampered and switched right 2 out, ran on to lead flat
in touch, headway 5th, every chance when pulled up approaching 2 out and dismounted
towards rear, ridden and headway 3 out, weakened soon after
mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, switched left, close up last, one pace
led, headed 6th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, led 4 out, ridden when headed soon after 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, left in lead, joined last, soon one pace
in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out
In the penultimate race on the card, Celticello, Nesnaas and Looks The Business make it onto the short list, with the vote going to Looks The Business. Much as Celticello's eight-pounds ratings-rise for a Bangor win looks a little on the high side, he does at least come here in good heart. He needs to be delivered late in the day but that's no bad thing and he can go well. Nesnaas looks one of the more likely types today having run well from a two-pounds lower mark four runs ago. Much as his last three runs have been uninspiring, two of those have come on the Flat and a good run today is not ruled out. Looks The Business comes into it based on the facts that he is just three pounds above a winning mark and actually ran well when just beaten off a three-pounds higher mark than he races from today last August. A return to that type of form would clearly bring him into things. Many of the others need to recapture what seems to be an elusive best in order to feature today, although Fieldsofclover gets an each-way shout and Mistified comes here seeking a third-straight win, but the fact remains that he needs a career-best effort if he is to win again. Once again, then, the selection is Looks The Business.
Celticello (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, keen, headway 8th, led on bit 2 out, hit last, hard ridden flat, just held on, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul beating Shanahan (11-5) by a shd, 12 ran.
Saratogane (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Always behind, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind The Grey Man (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Top Trees 12-1 (10-2) Towards rear, pulled hard, raced wide, headway 5th, going well 2 out, shaken up and every chance last, all out flat, just failed, 2nd of 7, nk behind Hill Forts Timmy (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jun.
Red Moor (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, led briefly 8th, weakened next, 8th of 12, 31l behind Celticello (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
Baikal 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, hampered after 2nd, headway 6th, led and hit next, headed after 3 out, weakened between last 2, 3rd of 10, 24l behind Almizan (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Equilibria (USA) 6-1 (10-9) Keen, mid-division, headway 4th, weakened next, 8th of 11, 23l behind Nikola (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Fieldsofclover (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led to 2nd, led 7th, in command from 4 out, pushed clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in May beating Matthew Muroto (11-6) by 14l, 10 ran.
Mistified (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, hard ridden and drifted slightly right from last, led final 100 yards, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun beating Kyathos (10-7) by a hd, 9 ran.
