jumped right, not always fluent, led to 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 9th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, not fluent 6th or 7th, soon shaken up, struggling 9th, lost touch from next, tailed off
blundered 6th, always behind, lost touch 9th, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, hung left and chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression approaching last
keen early, chased leader to 2nd, remained in touch until weakened 3 out
always prominent, chased leader from 2nd, mistake 6th, led 3 out, ridden out flat
held up in rear, lost touch from 10th
held up towards rear, lost touch from 9th, tailed off
prominent, not fluent 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
The best race of the day by a country mile and we will side with FOURTY ACERS ahead of Lyrical Assassin. On official figures, it appears that the selection is up against it trying to give 6lbs to a higher-rated rival, however the feeling is that he can overcome that burden. After two runs this Summer over fences, a return to hurdles looks an obvious move as he proved himself to be a decent Novice earlier in the year. He handles most types of ground, has a fine strike-rate and if the cheek-pieces have a positive effect then he should run well. Main rival Lyrical Assassin is a recent recruit to the stable from Ireland and ran fairly well behind Bremen at Fontwell; a repeat of that run should see him go close. Pams Oak is a course winner and this strong-stayer is interesting over hurdles considering he had been kept to fences when we last saw him; on his previous run over hurdles he fell in a race won by Fourty Acers. Maxou Des Brosses is an unknown, whilst Strong Coffee is winless in eight but has the cheek-pieces on for the first time today. Alecia was pulled up last time and so we will return to Fourty Acers as the selection.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) Led and soon clear, came back to field 6th, not fluent 9th, mistake 11th, headed 14th, 4th when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind He's The Gaffer (11-3) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Lyical Assassin (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and jumped right 7th, kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 17l behind Bremen (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Kilmore Bay (IRE) Karinga Bay gelding out of Becca's Rose.
Maxou Des Brosses (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Keen tracking leaders, led 5th, headed after 6th, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ogee (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept, 13 ran.
Pams Oak 3-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 34l behind No Complaint (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jul.
Papajosh (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Pulled hard, prominent, weakened over 4f out, 8th of 15, 43l behind Silver Kate (10-4) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gd in Sept.
Strong Coffee 9-2 (11-6) Led to 4th, prominent until ridden 8th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 12, 24l behind Phone In (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept.
Commanche Dawn 11-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, staying on when fell 2 out in race won by Pitful Tercah (11-3) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl (5) gd in Jan, 14 ran.
Foxriver (IRE) 18-1 (10-5) In touch, mistake 7th, ridden after next, soon weakened, 5th of 12, well behind Another Brother (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Alecia (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, lost place 7th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Phone In (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept, 12 ran.
