held up in rear, slow 10th, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace
chased leaders, driven 3 out, weakened next
led, mistake 2nd, not fluent 6th, strongly challenged 2 out, headed after last, kept on under pressure
tracked leader, outpaced 4 out, rallied 2 out, never a threat
tracked leader, every chance 2 out, led flat, ran on well
Bells Of Ailsworth may struggle to win this after a long absence and Buck Dancing has a bit to prove over fences at this level but the remaining trio look closely matched. El Terremoto ran well in a higher grade at Market Rasen but is not certain to stay. There are also stamina concerns surrounding Cartmel winner Old Salt so the vote goes to POWERFUL SYMBOL, who has won over 3m and will strip fitter for his third at Worcester.
El Terremoto (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, no extra after 2 out, 4th of 14, 17 1/2l behind Casablanca Mix (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jul.
Bells Of Ailsworth (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Always behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Powerful Symbol (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Led until before 4 out, no impression on winner and lost 2nd 3 out, plugged on, 3rd of 7, 18 1/4l behind Asockastar (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Old Salt (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led last bend, ridden out, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jul beating Braavos (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Buck Dancing (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on outside tracking leaders after 3 out, led 2 out, joined last, driven out, won at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in Jun beating For Jim (11-4) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
