tracked leader, led 3rd, clear when mistake 6th, hit next, soon in command, stayed on well
hampered and unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, chased winner 6th, ridden and no impression after next
held up towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, soon driven and weakened
never beyond mid-division, tailed off 6th
led to 3rd, weakened after 6th
held up towards rear, steady headway after 3 out, kept on under pressure
held up in rear, making steady headway and in 6th when fell 2 out
always behind, tailed off when blundered 6th
always behind, mistake 3rd and 6th, tailed off
chased leaders, under pressure after 5th, driven and lost 3rd after 3 out, kept on under pressure flat
hampered 1st, behind when mistake 3rd, tailed off 6th
In the opener, Art Modern gets the vote ahead of Fantastic Arts and Basic Fact. Almanshood's debut run behind Ameeq at Huntingdon showed some promise, while Ameeq's stable companion, Art Modern, has probably shown a slightly better level of form over hurdles thus far, form that should be good enough to see him competitive today. Basic Fact suggested promise for the future with his bumper third last time and is another to consider, while Nick Gifford does well with his small string and Cost Analysis is certainly not one to disregard. The best of Fantastic Arts' form of the past 18 months would give him claims. Glad Big is interesting as he managed to win from a mark of 77 on the all-weather at a mile on the Flat, while Rural Reprimand certainly has some Flat speed in his pedigree although he is seven now and has yet to see the racecourse. A repeat of his Stratford run in July would give Smoothly Does It claims, and, finally, as a middle-distance Flat winner, albeit a modest one, Cantrip is another to consider. Overall, though, we will side with Art Modern.
Almanshood (USA) 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden 2 out, one pace when mistake last, 5th of 16, 16l behind Ameeq (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Art Modern (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, one pace flat, 4th of 16, 7l behind My Immortal (10-12) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) gd.
Basic Fact (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Catherine's Run (10-12) at Fontwell 1m 6f nhf (6) gf in Sept.
Cost Analysis (IRE) 5-1fav (8-11) Slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Gem Bien (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec (Flat).
Fantastic Arts (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, mistake 6th and next, headway to chase leading pair 10th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 47l behind Saddlers Cloth (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f mdn chs (5) gs in Apr.
Glad Big (GER) 11-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Bijou Dan (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jul (Flat).
Knocker Jock (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Not fluent 4th, always towards rear, 8th of 11, 46l behind Tagula Blue (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Smoothly Does It 5-2 (11-2) Held up and keen, ridden 4th, chased winner 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 3, 12l behind Tashkandi (9-11) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Aug.
