tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway after not fluent 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on
prominent, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next
led until approaching 6th, ridden from 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway on outside after 5th, led before next, joined last, soon headed, stayed on until no impression close home
tracked leaders, lost place after 7th, well beaten 3 out
You can't really knock the form of recent course and distance winner Baileys Concerto but he looks as though he's been handicapped on his chase exploits. Handmaid beat Never Never by seven lengths here in July but was then beaten when odds-on at Market Rasen and is conceding weight all round today. Solway Dandy remains a maiden and, like Maraweh, will carry more than his allotted weight but Sharp Rise is improving with experience and should be winning soon. ROSSINI'S DANCER has yet to win over hurdles but a recent second here will have blown away any cobwebs and he has a much higher rating over fences. He might be a bit of value in a race in which most have a question mark hanging over them.
Handmaid 5-6fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd and challenged after 3 out, outpaced approaching next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Lucky Cody (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Never Never (IRE) 10-11fav (11-3) Led 1st until 2nd, tracked leader, challenged 6th, mistake next, led 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, beaten last, eased flat, 2nd of 3, 8l behind Sudski Star (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Baileys Concerto (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up mid-division, went 4th 4 out, headway on bit 2 out, led last, kept on well, won at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Badged (10-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Sharp Rise (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Led to 3 out, one pace in 3rd from last, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Taglietelle (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Rossini's Dancer 8-1 (10-12) Led, headed last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Taglietelle (11-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Solway Dandy 3-1fav (11-0) Held up in rear, headway to go 3rd before 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Oxalido (10-10) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Maraweh (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Led, hit 5th, headed after next, close 3rd when carried right last, one pace and no impression flat, 3rd of 8, 8l behind One For Hocky (10-6) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Aug.