chased clear leaders, closed 9th, not fluent next, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well
chased clear leaders, closed 9th, awkward and lost ground 4 out, closed on outside 3 out, beaten from 2 out, stayed on same pace, went 3rd flat
led, clear 5th until 9th, headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, effort after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leader, lost 2nd before 2 out, beaten after, no extra flat
held up towards rear, ridden after 11th, no impression, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 10th, 3rd 2 out until flat, stayed on same pace
CHARBEL (NAP) has always been campaigned at the highest level and runs in only his second handicap. He hasn’t run since falling in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March and tackles 2m4f for the first time but should have the class to overcome both of those negatives. Imperial Presence is on a roll and beat Hammersly Lake eight lengths at Uttoxeter in July, though the latter is now 8lb better off. Indian Temple likes it here and Marracudja is only a pound higher than when winning at Musselburgh in February but Irish raiders Rightdownthemiddle and Fenlon's Hill are facing a tough task from out of the handicap.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Held up behind leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Imperial Presence (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Charbel (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place after 5th, fell next, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Imperial Presence (IRE) 13-8fav (10-9) Made virtually all, mostly jumped really well, clear 3 out, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jul beating Hammersly Lake (11-12) by 8l, 5 ran.
Marracudja (FR) 9-2 (12-4) Led into start, in touch in mid-division on outside, not fluent 1st, slow 6th, closed after 9th, not fluent 4 out, beaten when not fluent next, kept on flat, 4th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Festive Affair (11-11) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in May.
Indian Temple (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, effort before 3 out, one pace before next, ridden and stayed on to press for 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner, 3rd of 7, 11 1/2l behind Swingbridge (10-2) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Rightdownthemiddle (IRE) 2-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along and stumbled slightly on bend over 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 12, 13l behind Jake Peter (9-0) at Tramore 2m hcp gd in Aug.
Fenlon's Hill (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Mid-division, progress into 5th after 3 out, ridden before next, under pressure in 3rd before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Cappacon (11-6) at Sligo 2m 5f hcp gd in Aug.
