held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 7th, ridden and hung left approaching 2 out, one pace and no impression
tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden clear from last
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, soon dropped rear, weakened from 3 out
led to 2nd, remained close up, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
tracked leader, led 2nd, headed 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
Fu Manchu is preferred to Little Task and Air Augusta. The top-weight clearly has his own ideas about the game and the blinkers have been reached for in an effort to control his wayward tendancies. This is a weaker contest than the one he finished second in at Bangor and if Noel Fehily can persuade him as to his way of thinking, he looks difficult to oppose. Little Task was a rare winner under National Hunt rules for John Wainwright. He had been steadily dropping down the weights prior to that run but as a three miler, he faces some questions over shorter. Air Augusta was a wide margin winner of a Hereford seller and he would need to step up greatly on that form as he beat a number of moderate horses on that occasion. Top The Bill and Tuesday's Child have shown little of note this term and are opposed. Fu Manchu has his quirks and while he will be a short price, he looks to be just about the percentage play.
Fu Manchu 5-2 (11-4) Held up, headway after 3 out, chased winner approaching last, hung left and swished tail flat, not quicken, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Dancing Hill (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Airgusta (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (5) gf in Jun beating Soviet Sceptre (10-12) by 5l, 15 ran.
Little Task 7-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden when hit 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Bangor 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf beating Very Special One (11-7) by a hd, 11 ran.
Top The Bill (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place 4th, soon behind, 10th of 17, 43l behind Rushneeyriver (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Tuesday's Child 7-1 (10-13) Always behind, mistake 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Appach (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jun, 9 ran.
