took keen hold, held up, headway into 3rd at 8th, went 2nd going well before 2 out, led between last 2, soon clear, in command when not fluent last, easily
tracked leading pair, chased clear leader from 3rd, closer order 8th, ridden and hung left after 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd, kept on into 2nd last but no chance with easy winner
led, clear 3rd, pushed along before 2 out, headed between last 2, soon no chance with winner and lost 2nd last
held up, some headway 8th, driven along after 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off
chased leaders to 3rd, close up, reminders after 8th, soon struggling, tailed off
Nonrunner
HELLO MOSCOW can defy top weight status in this claimer, to get the better of Deadline and Cruise Director. Jim Best's gelding is giving away a couple more pounds than if this was a handicap, but that doesn't look a heavy burden. Third of five on his chase debut last time out following a seven months' absence, Hello Moscow had previously only finished out of the frame when pulled up twice, coincidentally (or otherwise) when wearing headgear, which doesn't return today. A return to hurdling and with no finer pilot on board to coax him round, he could land the spoils. Deadline has paid his way over hurdles and on the flat, but has been disappointing of late after a decent summer. The headgear gets changed again today on Alison Thorpe's only runner on the card. Cruise Director should benefit from a step up in trip, and can go well fresh, with this his first run out in public since April. It's one of those races that whoever wins won't come as a major surprise, but carrying our support will be Hello Moscow.
Cruise Director 5-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, tracked leaders 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, soon faded, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Miss Phoebe (10-1) at Hereford 2m 4f clm hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Deadline (UAE) 9-1 (10-11) In touch, reminders and lost place after 5th, no danger after, 5th of 11, 28l behind Kealshore Boy (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
John Fenton (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Prominent, mistake 4th, lost place after next, dropped rear after 9th, 12th of 14, well behind Openide (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Bafana Boy 40-1 (10-0) Pulled hard, mistake 2nd, blundered 3rd, headway 6th, mistake 12th, mistake and weakened 13th, blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Mister Apple's (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct, 17 ran.
Little Girl 200-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, reminders after 3rd, weakening when jumped left next, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Brousse En Feux (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 5f sell hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Hello Moscow (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, reminder approaching 9th, not fluent 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before omitted 2nd last fence, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Marleybow (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (5) gf in Oct.
