led, pushed along before 9th, headed 10th, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last
held up mid-division, headway approaching 8th, weakened after 4 out
tracked leader, chased winner before 3 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd place towards finish
towards rear, reminder after 1st, weakened before 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened before 8th, pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear
held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 8th
towards rear, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, kept on from last, went 3rd last 100 yards
held up mid-division, ridden and headway before 3 out, no impression from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 7th, in 3rd when blundered last, lost 3rd place last 100 yards
chased leaders in 3rd, led 10th, clear after 3 out, jumped right 2 out, kept on well
Bushwacker and Mister Matt are both chasing a hat-trick but are climbing the weights and this looks a tough handicap. Paul Nicholls won this last year with Classic Swain and Hoo La Baloo carries a similar hefty burden, though regular pilot James Cowley takes off 10lb. Along with Intac and War Party, he finished behind Bushwacker at Stratford last time however. Oceana Gold beat Mibleu by 10 lengths on his handicap debut over fences and enters the equation but there is surely a race in EXULTO off his current mark and he gets the nod, despite narrowly failing to overhaul Dean's Grange over C&D eight days ago.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, blundered 8th, outpaced next, stayed on approching last, no threat, 4th of 10, 8l behind Bushwacker (9-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Jul.
Grand Lahou (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 7, 39l behind Pouvoir (11-1) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Oceana Gold 7-1 (11-4) Made all, drew clear from last, comfortably, won at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul beating Mibleu (10-8) by 10l, 8 ran.
War Party 9-2 (10-6) Held up well in rear, hit 8th, hampered last, never nearer, 5th of 10, 18l behind Bushwacker (9-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Jul.
Lord Jay Jay (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led to 2nd, led again 3rd, hit 8th, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Lord Ryeford (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jul.
Bushwacker (IRE) 4-1fav (9-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, challenged after 8th, led 4 out, left clear 2 out, idled approaching last, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Jul beating The Jigsaw Man (11-5) by 4l, 10 ran.
Intac (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) With leader until 3rd, prominent, ridden after 8th, hampered and left 2nd 2 out, 3rd last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Bushwacker (9-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Jul.
Exulto (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Chased clear leading pair, closed to lead approaching 7th, headed 4 out, 4 lengths down last, closed on weakening winner close home, just failed, 2nd of 9, ns behind Dean's Grange (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Mister Matt (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) Made all, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, went left 3 out, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jul beating Dean's Grange (11-0) by 5l, 5 ran.
Bathwick Quest (IRE) 11-4 (9-10) In touch in 4th, blundered 2nd and rider lost iron, in rear when fell 3rd, in a race won by Russian Flag (11-8) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 5 ran.
Mibleu (FR) 5-1 (10-8) Held up, headway 4th, jumped right and chased winner 6th, ridden, swished tail, hung left and beaten flat,, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Oceana Gold (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
