towards rear, struggling 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent 1st, chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, closed 6th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 4th, headway 6th, led 3 out, clear approaching last, easily
took keen hold, headway to go prominent 2nd, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
in touch early, mid-division, mistake 4th, not fluent next, closed 6th, every chance 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
soon chasing leaders, closed 6th, every chance 3 out, no impression on winner after 2 out
never going well, lost touch after 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
with leader until ridden after 5th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent 1st, chased leaders, ridden after 5th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on flat
Nonrunner
The speedy return to action for STRUMBLE HEAD is a good clue towards his well being and the expectations held by his connections. Amazing Request and Petit Fleur are forwarded as a couple of rivals that are capable of pushing the selection all the way to the line. Petit Fleur has the assistance of a very capable 5lb claimer and ought to find the conditions are to his liking. It's noteworthy that his solitary success to date came at this course, so support in the betting ring would have its foundations. Amazing Request has also acted well at Newton Abbot and is no doubt building up a following with the local shrewdies with an eye for an each-way steal. With a 24-race losing run, his ability to hold on to a lead is obviously his weak point, though. Song In My Heart is another with a feasible chance in this grade but his going days are hard to predict and there is an element of blind faith required if you are keen on supporting the mount of Tony McCoy. Therefore, with all things considered, recent winning form is the most persuasive factor and Strumble Head, who was a comfortable winner at Stratford on Thursday, makes by far the most appeal on that reasoning.
Ouste (FR) 28-1 (11-5) Towards rear, struggling when hit 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Rifleman (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd, 13 ran.
Barton Alf 12-1 (11-8) Close up, weakened after 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Over The Flow (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May, 12 ran.
Starstruck Peter (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led after 1st, headed next, with leader, led 5th, ridden and headed when not fluent next, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Kopylova (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun, 11 ran.
Petit Fleur 7-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 20l behind Risk Challenge (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
New Rackheath (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, mistake and lost place 4th, jumped slowly next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Western Pride (10-0) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 11 ran.
Strumble Head (IRE) 9-2fav (10-13) Led until 2nd, led after next, blundered 3 out, ridden clear flat, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd beating Ruby Valentine (10-9) by 4l, 11 ran.
Song In My Heart (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Held up in rear, pulled up after 5th, in a race won by Mujamead (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jul, 12 ran.
Amazing Request 7-2fav (10-8) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, headway under pressure approaching next, never nearer, 5th of 14, 12l behind Nothing Is Forever (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Always Cruising (USA) 33-1 (10-12) In rear, not fluent 6th, mistake next, behind 8th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Sir Bumble (11-3) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf, 9 ran.
Award Winning (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Prominent, lost place 6th, last and struggling next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lomitaar (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jul, 12 ran.
Mangonel 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, driven 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Nothing Is Forever (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd, 14 ran.
Young Tot (IRE) 17-2 (10-0) Prominent, outpaced after 3 out, hit 2 out, no impression, 4th of 11, 14l behind Strumble Head (10-13) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Motor Home 50-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 8, 15l behind Herschel (11-2) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Abulharith 13-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out, 10th of 13, 27l behind Occasionally Yours (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun.
Lets Get Cracking (FR) 100-1 (10-7) In rear hampered 4th, pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Punchestowns (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Mar '08, 16 ran.
