held up in touch, headway before 2 out, ridden to chase winner last, no impression
mid-division, not fluent 4th, outpaced 3 out, kept on before last, just held for 4th close home
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, just held on for 3rd close home
towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well
led, pressed from 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up behind, effort before 2 out, soon weakened and pulled up
Gordon Elliott has won this twice in the last four years and saddles recent course and distance winner High Expectations. He wasn't particularly fancied on his debut but did the job with the minimum of fuss and should confirm the form with third Uplifted, though this looks a lot tougher under a penalty. Al Musheer finished 11 lengths ahead of Aldreth when second to Full Day at Sedgefield but doesn't look a natural hurdler. Cape Arrow and Les Gar Gan both won on the Flat so have to be respected but SINNDAR'S MAN can only improve on his racecourse debut at Newton Abbot so gets the nod.
High Expectations (FR) 7-1 (10-12) In rear, headway before 2 out, led last, pressed run-in, held on well near finish, won at Perth 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd beating Dry Your Eyes (10-5) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Aldreth 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, pushed along before 3 out and soon lost place and in rear, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd close home, no impression, 3rd of 5, 20l behind Full Day (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd.
Al Musheer (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Full Day (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd.
Cape Arrow 10-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 11, 15l behind Deauville Dancer (9-2) at Nottingham 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul (flat).
Network Perfection 8-1 (8-6) Held up behind, driven over 2f out, ridden and stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never nearer, 7th of 11, 12l behind Kelamita (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) (flat).
Sinndar's Man 5-1 (10-12) In touch, jumped big 1st, jumped slowly and dropped rear 3rd, stayed on after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Goodbye Dancer (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo hdl (3) gd in Aug.
Uplifted (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged 2 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind High Expectations (10-12) at Perth 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd.
Les Gar Gan (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Held up in touch, effort over 2f out, weakend inside final furlong, 8th of 15, 9l behind Harrison's Cave (8-13) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gd (flat).
