tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 7th, not fluent 12th, rallied approaching 14th, hit 16th, driven in 5th when blundered 4 out, soon beaten, stayed on same pace flat
led until 1st, led 4th, reminder after 12th, headed after next, weakened approaching 15th, tailed off
mid-division, headway from 15th, chased winner approaching 4 out, close up next, no impression when losing 2nd close home
led 1st until 4th, led after 13th, not fluent 16th or 2 out, driven clear flat
held up in rear, headway after 11th, close 3rd from 3 out, no impression on winner when taking 2nd close home
in touch in mid-division, closed after 3rd, jumped right and driven 16th, soon beaten, tailed off
prominent, lost place 14th, pulled up before 16th
tracked leaders early, mid-division, ridden and closed after 13th, went 2nd next until before 4 out, soon beaten, stayed on same pace flat
in rear, jumped slowly 1st, ridden after 9th, behind 15th, tailed off
Estates Recovery is unbeaten over this C&D, beating Templer by 10 lengths here on his latest start in July. He appears a lot more consistent nowadays but a 13lb rise in the weights hasn't done him any favours. Frosted Grape should reverse last month's Ffos Las running with Templer on 3lb better terms and has to go on the short-list, but Earth Planet's only win over fences so far came in a weak contest at Hereford and he looks to have little chance of reversing Taunton running in March with Cold Mountain on worse terms. A P McCoy rode Cullahill to victory at Ffos Las last month and this longer trip will suit but let's take a chance on stablemate ETHIOPIA. Despite winning four times already this year, the eight-year-old still looks reasonably handicapped and was still travelling well within himself when unseating his rider behind Estates Recovery here in July - he is 7lb better off now.
Estates Recovery (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Prominent, led 3rd until 5th, led 7th, clear after 4 out, hit last, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jul beating Templer (11-9) by 10l, 15 ran.
Frosted Grape (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Led until 1st, led 3rd, mistake 8th, headed 13th, modest 5th 4 out, rallied approaching last, ran on flat, just failed, 2nd of 11, hd behind Templer (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gf in Aug.
Templer (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Always prominent, went 2nd 6th, led 13th, hit 4 out, idled 2 out, driven clear after last, just held on, won at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gf in Aug beating Frosted Grape (11-10) by hd, 11 ran.
Qhilimar (FR) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 7th, 6th after 15th, weakening when refused and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Minella Four Star (9-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
Earth Planet (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 14th, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 5, 19l behind Chesapeake (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gf.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, outpaced 7th, went modest 5th after 9th, went 4th before last, never on terms, 4th of 8, 33l behind William Hogarth (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Aug.
Cullahill (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, closed 3 out, led next, in command last, ridden out, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug beating Battlecry (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Ethiopia 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 16th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 6, 22l behind Skipper's Lad (10-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, 10th of 18, 38l behind Quattrocento (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
