prominent, hit 4th, weakened next, tailed off
led, mistake 6th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold, held up towards rear on outside, some headway when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 5th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat, just failed to get 2nd
pulled hard, chased leader after 1st until 5th, every chance 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
mid-division, headway after 5th, chased winner after 3 out, no impression when mistake last, just held on for 2nd
held up in rear, pulled hard, not fluent and stumbled 5th, some progress 2 out, never in contention
jumped right and moderately, pulled hard, always behind, tailed off 6th, pulled up before next
always prominent, not fluent 4th, went send next, led 3 out, ridden when mistake 2 out, clear last ran on well
chased leaders, pushed along 5th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
This is a wide open affair, with CAPALL EILE taken to come back to form, and Geoffdaw and Fairmile best of the rest. Capall Eile has not taken to fences on his last two starts, but he had earlier run well to be a decent second over the smaller obstacles over this course and distance. He is still a maiden in 19 starts however but looks the most likely winner in a weak affair. Fairmile is an enigmatic character, and at his best he would take some stopping, with some classy efforts on the Flat to his credit. However, he was a huge disappointment on his latest outing on the level, and making his debut here over hurdles, a watching brief is advised. Geoffdaw had a poor season on the Flat this summer, with his rating coming crashing down to the low fifties, but he showed some promise on his hurdling bow and may have learnt something from that. Capall Eile is a tentative selection in a race where bets should be kept to a minimum.
Blow Hole (USA) 200-1 (10-5) Always in rear, pulled up before last, in a race won by Rampant Ronnie (11-4) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gf, 16 ran.
Capall Eile (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, headed 5th, 2nd halfway, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bangonform (11-11) at Sligo 2m 1f beg chs, 15 ran.
Dukedom 3-1 (11-4) 7th of 16, well behind Auenschutze (11-6) at Sligo 2m 4f 4yo mdn hdl gd in Aug '08.
Fairmile 5-4fav (9-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, challenged on bit to dispute lead over 1f out, soon ridden, found nil, 5th of 9, 7l behind Demolition (9-8) at York 1m 4f clm stks (4) gd in Jul (flat).
Geoffdaw 18-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, some headway 5th, hit next, weakening when hit 3 out, 5th of 9, 16l behind Agente Romano (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Gunslinger (FR) 16-1 (9-5) Held up, good headway 3f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, disputed lead inside final furlong, led post, won at Nottingham 1m 2f mdn stks 0-80 (5) gs beating Cotillion (9-0) by ns, 10 ran (flat).
Mid Valley 10-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, soon close up, led after 4th, hit 5th, headed before next, regained lead at hurdle, hit 7th, soon headed, weakened before 3 out, hit 2 out, tailed off, last of 5, 43l behind Stopped Out (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Natural Action 20-1 (10-7) Held up, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 17l behind Press The Button (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Ramona Chase 14-1 (10-12) Pulled very hard, restrained in rear, not fluent 3rd, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Starluck (11-8) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Dec, 10 ran.
Whenever 17-2 (9-10) Led until headed over 6f out, led again over 3f out, soon ridden, headed 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Mykingdomforahorse (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep (flat).
Veras Joy 250-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, driven halfway, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up soon after 2 out, in a race won by Press The Button (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf, 11 ran.
