led and soon clear, hit 9th and 11th, reduced lead before 3 out, hit 2 out, headed last, driven and outpaced run-in
raced keenly, tracked leading pair, hit 6th, pushed along briefly after 10th, 2nd travelling well before 2 out, led last, edged left and quickened clear run-in, eased towards finish
chased clear leader, reached for 8th, pushed along after 10th, closed before 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd before next, one pace in 3rd run-in
took keen hold, held up in 4th, hit 2nd, mistake 3 out, plugging on disputing well held 3rd when mistake last, kept on same pace run-in
Nonrunner
Knight Bachelor bids for a four-timer after winning a novice event at Worcester. He won a handicap by a wide margin previously but is now 20lb higher and LISTEN AND LEARN is preferred. The latter was caught in the closing stages by Skylander when runner-up at Worcester last month and is closely matched with Volcanic on that form. The latter was beaten less than a length at Sedgefield recently and should also be thereabouts but Mercers Court has gone off the boil since landing a hat-trick over fences. This is much tougher than the races Generous Chief won earlier this year and he was beaten in lower grade at Newton Abbot on Friday where he had a hard race.
Knight Bachelor 4-7fav (11-12) Made all, jumped left 3 out, veered left next, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Aug beating Horseguardsparade (10-12) by 5l, 4 ran.
Listen And Learn (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway 8th, led before 2 out, driven flat, headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Skylander (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Volcanic (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 3 out, soon challenged, ridden after next, every chance last, kept on under pressure flat, just held in 3rd near finish, 3rd of 7, nk behind Optimistic Bias (11-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Mercers Court (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, outpaced 8th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 7, 19 1/4l behind Cut The Corner (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Generous Chief (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Prominent, mistake 6th, pushed along 8th, led 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Winter Walk (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
