held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 3 out, not fluent 2 out, chased winner last, stayed on
in touch when not fluent 2nd, soon mid-division, headway 8th, blundered 3 out, soon challenged winner, weakened flat
not fluent, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
led until after 1st, pressed leader until before 7th, weakened approaching next
mid-division, struggling after 7th, soon behind
raced keenly, tendency to jump right, led after 1st, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, weakened under pressure after 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, steady headway after 6th, led after 3 out, edged left under pressure after last, driven out
took keen hold, held up in rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, mistake 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, reminder after 5th, ridden approaching 7th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, always in rear
in rear, ridden 7th, passed beaten horses from 2 out
A tricky finale in which we will give the tentative vote to Sheikhman while both Gun Smith and Lowe Go are worth noting in the betting market. The selection is eight pounds higher since winning at Newton Abbott for his new connections. That was his first outing since winning at Sedgefield for trainer Richard Ford. He is only lightly raced and looks like he is still on the up grade and with that in mind he is worth staying on the right side of. Gun Smith is starting to look a little exposed after finishing fourth on his last two outings. He does come from a powerfull and yard and has the services of Tony McCoy but he still looks average. Lowe Go won a handicap at Uttoxeter last month after showing promise in similar races. He was raised ten pounds for his efforts and was unable to win off his new mark when running disappointingly at Worcester last time out so has to be treated with caution. So for the winner we return to Sheikhman.
Lady Roania (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Yoursomethinelse (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Mt Desert 25-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway from 4 out, no impression, 5th of 13, 26l behind McQueen (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Gun Smith 4-1 (10-8) Not fluent, led to 2nd, remained prominent, led again after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 6l behind Rightful Ruler (11-4) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Sheikhman (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, ran on, ridden out, won at N Abbot 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun beating Nortonthorpe Lad (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
College City (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 13, 50l behind Bauhaus (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Silver Mont (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 13, 17l behind Divine Gift (11-2) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Lowe Go 4-1 (11-1) Prominent, joined leader 8th, ridden next, weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Barneys Mate (11-4) at Worcester 3m amt hcp hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Another Storm 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, every chance approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 17, 22l behind Well Saved (11-3) at Bangor 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Morning Roses 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 12, 43l behind Brinkmanship (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Aug '07.
Hunting Haze 33-1 (10-8) Keen early, in touch, challenged 3 out, ridden next, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 28l behind John Forbes (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Mar.
Loriko d'Airy (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Led to 3rd, pushed along approaching 7th, weakened quickly and pulled up at the 8th in race won by William Butler (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul, 8 ran.
Nanard (FR) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leaders until weakened after 13th, 10th of 15, 43l behind Extra Bold (10-11) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Little Task 12-1 (11-4) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 28l behind Well Saved (11-3) at Bangor 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Cengiz (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Pressed leader to 5th, weakened next, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Native City (11-1) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun.
Full of Zest 10-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Present (10-10) at Perth 2m 4f mrs mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul, 16 ran.
Alpha Juliet (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 17, 23l behind McQueen (11-3) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl (5) gf in Jul.