held up, headway and switched left over 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, stayed on, just held
held up in rear, well behind final 2f
led, headed over 3f out, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, driven over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
always handy, led over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, held on well
raced alone towards far side and prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
prominent, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on
held up in rear, headway when not clear run over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
Bellevarde looked a likely future winner when runner-up here and duly obliged on a return visit, beating HIERONYMUS a length. The runner-up was staying on strongly at the finish and can reverse the form with the penalised winner and go one better. Smokey Lane completed a double in lower grade handicaps before finding Class 3 company at Newbury too hot. This is more his level so he should get into the shake-up. Michaels Choice hadn’t been in the best of form before landing a Class 5 handicap at Brighton in good style so a 4lb rise doesn’t look excessive while Afandem has been running well all summer and has won three times including around here.
Afandem (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, kept on into 3rd, never a threat, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Wrenthorpe (9-1) at Nottingham 5f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Andre Amar (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Dwelt, raced far side group, 10th halfway, soon pushed along, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 8th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Make A Challenge (9-0) at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Aug.
Big Les (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Led, strongly challenged from over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra closing stages, 6th of 11, 3l behind Zamjar (9-5) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Bellevarde (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, driven over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on, won at Nottingham 5f hcp (5) sft in Oct beating Hieronymus (9-2) by 1l, 9 ran.
Colonel Frank 20-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden and chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 12 1/4l behind King Of Tonga (9-4) at Newmarket 7f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Show Palace 5-1 (9-8) Keen, prominent, led halfway, headed over 1f out, no extra, 4th of 9, 2l behind Bellevarde (9-5) at Nottingham 5f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Smokey Lane (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Held up towards rear, never on terms, 10th of 14, 13 3/4l behind Teruntum Star (9-7) at Newbury 6f hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Red Pike (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, effort well over 1f out, faded closing stages, 6th of 9, 4l behind Bellevarde (9-5) at Nottingham 5f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Hieronymus 16-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, headway approaching final furlong, ran on, nearest finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Bellevarde (9-5) at Nottingham 5f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Michaels Choice 10-1 (8-12) Chased leaders on outside, ran on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Brighton 5f hcp (5) sft in Oct beating The Lamplighter (9-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
