never travelled well in rear, jumped slowly 4th, lost touch and pulled up before next
led to 2nd, led again 4th to 6th, in touch, led again before 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression with front pair between last 2
held up towards rear, took closer order 7th, effort on outside after 3 out, went 2nd before next, every chance when hit and pecked last, no extra flat
held up in touch, lost place and behind 9th, headway 4 out, outpaced after next, soon beaten
chased front pair to before 5 out, soon behind, tailed off 3 out
held up towards rear, some headway under pressure on inside before 4 out, never reached leaders, weakened next, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden and outpaced in 4th after 3 out, no impression before next
pressed leader, led 2nd to 4th, led again 6th, headed before 4 out, led again before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well
Torhousemuir finally won a race at the 22nd attempt at Worcester but doesn’t look an obvious candidate to follow up off an 8lb higher mark. Taaffes Castle gets cheekpieces after another second at Newton Abbot but Fontwell third Goldslinger has more scope over the larger obstacles after just two runs. SHIMBA HILLS unseated his rider at the first at Fontwell but that was hopefully just a blip. A dual winner here over hurdles, Lawney Hill’s charge is potentially well treated in chases.
Gaelic Poet (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, mistake 5th, outpaced before 3 out, never near leaders, 7th of 18, 30 1/4l behind Espalion (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Goldslinger (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Not fluent 1st, led before next, bumped 4th, headed after 10th, every chance when slow 3 out, lost 2nd last, no impression on winner, kept o, 3rd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Downloadtheapp (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Torhousemuir 10-1 (10-8) Held up behind, headway on outside 4 out, hit next, ridden after last, led closing stages, ran on, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug beating Skinflint (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Agent Westy (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, challenged 2nd, led after 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon headed and weakened, 8th of 11, 37 1/2l behind Kereman (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Shimba Hills 11-2 (11-1) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Taaffes Castle (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, hard driven to challenge after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Findusatgorcombe (10-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Enforcement (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 14, 29 1/4l behind Ulysses (11-3) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Noble Saffron 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind Phoenician Star (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3f (3) gd in Mar.