led, jumped right 9th, not fluent 12th, ridden and headed 16th, 6 lengths down 2 out, stayed on as winner idled badly flat, every chance close home, just held
keen early, tracked leaders, jumped right, went 2nd briefly after 13th, mistake 16th, not fluent next, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th until 12th and again before 14th, led 16th, 6 lengths ahead 2 out, ridden before last, idled badly flat, just held on
tracked leader, not fluent 9th, lost 2nd next until regained it 12th, mistake 13th, soon last and ridden, pulled up after 14th
Nonrunner
Only six are due to face the starter here but it's difficult to rule out any of them. Flemish Invader is very capable of running well fresh while Minella Stars can't remain a maiden over fences for much longer and Ballybough Gorta has won four of his five starts over the larger obstacles, including in this grade at Stratford last time. Double Chocolate was just collared after trying to make all at that track last month but may be a shade high in the weights now, though he's still preferred to Cartmel runner-up Mostly Bob. COME WHAT AUGUSTUS was a prolific winner between the flags and won his for the first time over C&D earlier this month. Soft ground clearly suits and the 10-year-old may be capable of following up off a low weight in this better contest.
Mostly Bob (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Disputed 2nd until outpaced 13th, behind from next, rallied approaching last, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 4, 23l behind Epee Celeste (10-11) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Aug.
Flemish Invader (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up in 5th when jumped slowly 2nd (water), never going well and jumping mistakes thereafter, rear from 3rd, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Gorge (10-13) at Ludlow 3m Am hcp ch 0-125 (3) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Minella Stars (IRE) 85-40 (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged 9th, led approaching 11th, headed 14th, rallied from 2 out to hold every chance last, no extra inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Red Not Blue (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Aug.
Come What Augustus 15-8fav (11-0) Led until approaching 4th, chased leader, led again 13th, headed briefly 3 out, ridden before next, joined when went right last, stayed on to assert flat, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating Ballyhilty Bridge (11-3) by 1l, 6 ran.
Double Chocolate 2-1fav (11-10) Led, jumped right and bumped 1st, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 5l behind I'm The Decider (11-1) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
Ballybough Gorta (IRE) 7-2 (10-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader, not fluent 4 out, stayed on well from last, bumped and led towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Papradon (10-6) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
