led, jumped right 3rd, clear 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon lost place, tailed off
chased leaders, 2nd 4 out, led after next, drew clear last, very easily
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on under pressure
tracked leader, mistake 2nd, jumped right next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
behind, soon detached, tailed off halfway
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, stayed on into 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon one pace
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, staying on when mistake next, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
It’s difficult to look beyond the two previous winners in this. Palixandre is less exposed that PURPLE KING but has switched stables since winning over a longer trip at Ludlow in May for Nicky Henderson so Richard Newland’s Stratford scorer makes greater appeal as an earlier second at Southwell is working out well. Lake Baikal has been well beaten in both placed starts here over 2m4f.
Palixandre (FR) 6-4 (10-12) Pulled hard tracking leaders, led after 3rd, headed after 2 out, staying on under pressure when left in lead 100 yards out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) gd in May beating Miss Gemstone (10-5) by 18l, 8 ran.
Purple King (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) With leader led before 3rd, made rest, driven 2 lengths clear last, ridden flat, hard pressed towards finish, just held on, won at Stratford 2m mdn (4) gd in Jul beating Bathiva (11-0) by shd, 10 ran.
Astute Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Mid-division, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, pulled up, at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in May.
Barney's Caulker 33-1 (10-6) Always behind, 10th of 13, 29l behind Frightened Rabbit (11-4) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Enemy Of The State (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) In rear, pushed along 4f out, never on terms, 8th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Strategic (8-11) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Lake Baikal (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went remote 2nd before 3 out, tailed off when hit next, weakened and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 4, 34 1/4l behind Borice (11-4) at Perth 2m 4f (4) gs in Jul.
Gripper 14-1 (11-4) In touch, lost place after 2nd, soon under pressure, behind 5th, pulled up before 2 out, at Perth 2m hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Lopito 25-1 (10-0) Towards rear, some headway on outer over 2f out, moderate 7th over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 24 3/4l behind Finding Nero (9-1) at Down Royal 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Jun.
Go Complain 8-1 (11-5) Led, headed after 1st and chased leaders, mistake 5th, 3rd halfway, ridden and weakened after 3 out, last of 16, dist behind Moonball (11-2) at Tramore 2m hcp gd in Aug.
