set good pace, led, blundered 4 out, headed next, weakened and mistake 2 out
mid-division and keen, headway after 5th, ridden to lead 2 out, hung left, kept on
in touch, keen, weakened 5th, soon lost touch
in touch, not fluent and lost place 2nd, tailed off from 5th
held up mid-division, ridden, outpaced 5th, stayed on to chase winner approaching 2 out, no extra flat
tailed off halfway
towards rear, some headway 5th, ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
held up rear, ridden 5th, some headway after 6th, blundered badly 2 out, weakened
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, every chance approaching 2 out, switched right approaching last, faded
A poor claimer gets proceedings underway but something has to win and the principals look to be Guist In Temp, Critical Stage and Positano and the tentative vote is given to Critical Stage. The selection was a fair third behind Sun King Last time out in a better race, this represents a drop in class and under conditions that suit he will be hard to beat. Guist In Temp rates the main danger on his best form but he was disappointing behind Jammareon last time so can not be put forward with any confidence. Positano is another with place claims on his latest fourth behind Stoksies Boy but he is very one paced and again he looks vulnerable. Don Fernando has the ability to go close but does not always use it. Of the remainder Ambersong is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but for the winner we return to Critical Stage.
Don Fernando 9-1 (11-1) In rear when unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Scalloway (11-4) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 8 ran.
Critical Stage (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when blundered last, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Sun King (10-2) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Saorsie 33-1 (11-0) Held up, hampered 2nd, headway 5th, weakened approaching last, 8th of 13, 12l behind Lahib The Fifth (11-10) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Waziri (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 11th of 14, 46l behind Rushneeyriver (11-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f amt sll hcp hdl (5) gf in Jun.
Ambersong 10-3 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on moderately, 4th of 8, 7l behind After Lent (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 1f cnd clm hdl (5) gf in May.
Giust In Temp (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Prominent, left in lead 5th, ridden and headed after 3 out, no chance with winner approaching 2 out, weakened and lost 2 places near finish, 4th of 11, 9l behind Jamaaron (10-13) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gf.
Mirant 11-8 (10-10) Led, hit 3rd, ridden and headed after 7th, 2nd and 5 lengths down when fell 2 out in race won by Moorlaw (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Jul, 5 ran.
Positano (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led, hit 7th, ridden when headed and mistake 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 15, 4l behind Stokesies Boy (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.