chased leaders, ridden 4th and soon struggling, fell 5th
mid-division, ridden 3 out, ridden 3 out, lost second 2 out, weakening when not fluent last
held up in rear, ridden 3 out, kept on from 2 out, no match for winner
made all, not fluent 4th, eight lengths clear at halfway, eight lengths clear 2 out, kept on
Chez Hans has won his last five, four of them around here, but might meet his match today in the shape of the equally in-form SOLSTALLA. Having rattled up a hat-trick previously, David Weston’s mare produced another excellent performance in this grade at Worcester last time when racing from out of the handicap. Blakeney Point’s Perth win was franked when the runner-up was just touched off at Cartmel on Saturday but the four-year-old State Crown looks up against it.
Chez Hans (GER) 1-7fav (11-10) Mostly jumped well, made all, clear when hit 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (3) gd in Aug beating Independence (11-0) by 20l, 5 ran.
Blakeney Point 16-1 (11-3) Prominent, pressed leader 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden to lead before last, clear bypassing usual last, all out, won at Perth 2m hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Ingleby Hollow (11-0) by shd, 8 ran.
Solstalla 4-1 (10-0) Held up in rear on outside, pushed along before 3 out, headway 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Champagne City (10-10) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
State Crown (IRE) 9-2jfav (10-10) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, every chance 2 out, lost place last, weakened flat, 9th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Cotton End (11-9) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
