held up in rearm not fluent 7th, headway approaching 9th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
in touch, went 2nd 7th to 8th, challenged 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, not fluent last, soon headed, no extra
in touch, dropped to rear when hit 2nd, mistake and reminders 5th, behind 8th
tracked leaders, raced keenly, outpaced 3 out, rallied 2 out, soon switched right, led soon after last, ran on
mid-division, raced keenly, headway 7th, went 2nd next, led 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat
chased leader to 7th, weakened approaching next
led to 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, raced keenly, mistake 4 out, weakening when not much room on bend soon after
held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, raced keenly, jumped right and mistake 9th, never dangerous
Norborne Bandit deserves to get his head in front having been running well without winning just of late but Kevin Prendergast's gelding looks booked for place at best again in a race taken to go to SIZING ASIA, who gets the vote over Mibleu. The Alner's runner was good value for his wins here and at Worcester in June but has struggled off his new mark in both starts since then and he may do so again today, although the faster ground today should help. Colin Tizzard's Eljay's Boy ran better at Stratford last time but a 3lb rise for that effort seems a shade harsh, while Tom George's Red Man Ray is hard to back with any confidence given his recent form. Gordon Elliott's The Rocking Dock ran better over hurdles last time and could be of interest if able to reproduce that improved form back over the larger obstacles but a better option looks to be Sizing Asia. The six-year-old has only had two starts since joining Paul Nicholls from Ireland where he showed little worthwhile form in three starts but he has run well in both of those outings over slightly further and, over a shorter trip today, he looks the one to be on.
Mibleu (FR) 13-2 (10-0) Took keen hold, held up, headway 5th, challenged 7th, dropped to 3rd and driven after 3 out, well held when mistake, pulled up and dismounted after 2 out, in a race won by Safari Journey (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 6 ran.
The Rocking Dock (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Settled 2nd, led after 4 out, strongly pressed 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Grand Opera (11-7) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-102 gf.
Sizing Asia (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, ridden approaching next, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 28l behind Right Option (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Pulled hard, pressed leader, mistake 8th, blundered next, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 8, 8l behind Nesnaas (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jul.
Eljay's Boy 6-1 (11-4) Held up, chased leaders 3 out, chased winner next, ridden approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Trotsky (11-2) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Caliban (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led to 6th, pushed along after next, beaten when mistake 2 out, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Agglestone Rock (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
Red Man Ray (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Led until approaching 8th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, 35l behind Beherayn (11-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jul.
Triple Bluff 11-1 (11-4) Close up, headway to join leaders 6th, 3rd under pressure after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, 24l behind Crazy Eyes (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Wild Power (GER) 6-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 9th, led 3 out, ridden and headed when not fluent 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Just Like That (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Kova Hall (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Always in rear, 9th of 16, well behind Classic Shot (11-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
