in touch in 4th place, hampered 4th, hampered 7th, headway 4 out, ridden and switched right before last, led run-in, kept on
led, mistake 5th, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace
with leader, in 2nd when fell 4th
tracked leaders in 3rd, hampered 4th and left 2nd, fell 7th
towards rear, went 2nd from 7th, ridden to lead last, headed run-in, kept on
in rear, soon detached, tailed off halfway
Bordeaux Bill and Jacks Last Hope are both previous course winners and would be vying for favouritism were this a hurdle race. Neither would be far away if taking to fences with the latter having the more recent form having skated up at Southwell in August, though he’ll find this plenty short enough. WESTERN MILLER has won three times over hurdles and looked an exciting chasing prospect at Stratford, where he jumped like an old hand and could be called the winner a long way from home. A penalty here will make life tougher but Paul O’Brien takes off a handy 5lb and he may be hard to peg back. Cobra De Mai and Eyes Of A Tiger both have questions to answer after flopping last time.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 15-8fav (11-6) Raced wide, led until before 4th, chased leader until hit 7th, weakened and eased approaching next, pulled up quickly soon after, at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Eyes Of A Tiger (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, blundered 5 out, son pushed along and weakened, 7th of 8, dist behind Tangolan (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Western Miller (IRE) 11-10fav (11-6) Jumped really well, made all, clear before last, impressive, won at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gs in Sep beating Too Many Diamonds (11-6) by 23l, 7 ran.
Bordeaux Bill (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear on outside, ridden and struggling after 4 out, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Jacks Last Hope 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, switched towards outside 3 out, went 2nd going well before next, led soon after, ridden between last 2, clear when not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Kalifourchon (10-5) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Ninepointsixthree 4-1 (11-7) Reluctant to line up, not fluent and chased leader from 2nd, led 5th, headed before next, soon led again, headed after 2 out, weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Cape Hideaway (11-3) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Oh So Gigolo (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, reminders before 4 out, tailed off 3 out, 12th of 16, 30 1/2l behind Endeavor (10-5) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
