chased leader, challenged 2nd, led next, not fluent 5th, headed before 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway and edged right bend after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, held flat, lost 2nd close home
mid-division, jumped right 1st, pushed along after 5th, struggling when mistake 3 out, well beaten next
held up in touch, hit 4th, lost place 3 out
always towards rear
led until 3rd, prominent, led before 2 out, soon headed, kept on, went 2nd close home
towards rear, headway after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, not pace to get on terms
behind, not fluent 1st, plugged on before 2 out, no impression
chased leaders, lost place after 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
Speredek is a consistent sort but the 10-year-old’s last win came at the start of 2018 and that was over fences. Oromo could be interesting with Hughes taking over from a conditional as he’s a previous course and distance winner. Sword Of Fate won here in June and has mainly run over fences since but another course winner, ISLAND NATION, is taken to resume winning ways having run up against much better company when third here last month.
Speredek (FR) 17-2 (11-5) Raced keenly in rear, steady headway tracking leaders before 4 out, ridden went 3rd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, went 2nd run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Shinobi (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Island Nation (IRE) 9-4fav (10-0) Towards rear, ridden briefly after 2 out (usual 3 out), steady headway last, kept on flat but no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Blakeney Point (11-3) at Perth 2m hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Go Fox 16-1 (11-4) Chased leader, ridden before the last, outpaced in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Lord Caprio (10-3) at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Mullins Cross (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division and 5th from halfway, good progress into 2nd before 3 out, ridden from next and closed on leader, led before last and kept on well run-in, won at Sligo 2m 1f hcp gd in Aug beating Fassbender (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 15 ran.
Oromo (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division and 6th from halfway, took closer order in 3rd from 3 out and ridden from next, no impression from last and weakened run-in, 7th of 16, 5l behind Citizen's Army (11-4) at Sligo 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Old Jewry (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Restrained in rear, some headway on bend before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon no impression, 8th of 17, 29 1/4l behind Getthepot (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in May.
Sword Of Fate (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Chased winner until after 8th, weakened after last, 4th of 6, 19 1/2l behind Tonto's Spirit (10-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Fowlplay (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and closer approaching 3 out, 7th 2 out and soon no impression, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 25l behind Aliym (11-8) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp gd in Jun.
Scots Sonnet 10-1 (11-3) Close up early, raced freely, held up after 1st, dropped to last after 3rd, pushed along over 2 out, left behind under 2 out, well held approaching last, last of 8, 28 1/4l behind Island Nation (11-2) at Perth 2m hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Kitty Hall (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, squeezed up hampered and unseated rider 1st, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Aug.
