mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway next, bumped 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway when not fluent 2 out, no further progress
mid-division, lost place after 4th, headway 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
always behind, driven before 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in touch, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden to lead just before last, driven out
in touch, ridden and lost place after 4th, no chance before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, mistake 6th, pressing leaders when blundered badly 3 out, went badly lame and pulled up soon after
raced keenly, chased leader, left in lead 3 out, headed just before last, no extra and lost 2nd near finish
raced keenly, held up towards rear, some headway when hit 3 out, soon weakened
raced freely, led, fell 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, not fluent 6th, hardridden between last 2, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd near finish
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway on inside approaching 5th, tracking leaders when brought down 3 out
Gun Smith seemed to appreciate the drop back in trip at Fontwell last time when finding only Just Beware too good and despite having been raised 5lbs for that run Jonjo O'Neill's gelding looks worth chancing to go one better here, getting the verdict ahead of Paktolos and Huguenot. The five-year-old had to work hard to win at Wincanton in May but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding was well held at Ludlow subsequently and he may be booked for a place at best. Paul Webber's Strong Survivor remains a maiden at all codes after 14 starts, while Chilbury Hill has given little sign of encouragement since being switched from bumpers. Colton would have claims if able to translate flat form to hurdles but has given little sign of doing so and of more interest may be Alan King's Paktolos, who has been in good form on the flat of late. This is a poor contest and Gun Smith is given the vote in the hope that he can reproduce his Fontwell form.
Paktolos (FR) 85-40fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, reminders 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 17l behind Boss Imperial (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Gun Smith 5-1 (11-1) Mid-division, hit 5th, headway going well approaching 3 out, led briefly before 2 out, every chance last, no extra under pressure flat, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Just Beware (9-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Five A Side 16-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, some progress under pressure after 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 12, 31l behind Histoire De Moeurs (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl (3) gd in Aug.
El Coto 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along 4th, mistake 3 out, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Dark Energy (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Decree Nisi 16-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 11, 34l behind Dalaram (11-5) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Kirkhammerton (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden approaching 5th, weakened quickly after 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Histoire De Moeurs (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl (3) gd in Aug, 12 ran.
Strong Survivor (USA) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 37l behind Party Palace (11-1) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Aug.
Colton 7-2jt-fav (11-7) Pressed leader, led 4th to 5th, every chance when hit 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 14, 20l behind Desert Lover (11-0) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Sky Calling 16-1 (11-12) Keen in mid-division, weakened after 5th, 14th of 16, well behind Faith And Reason (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Huguenot (IRE) 4-1 (10-8) Held up, in rear, headway after 6th, chased winner briefly approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 13l behind Back To The Wind (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Towards rear, mistake 2nd and 3rd, never on terms, 6th of 15, 19l behind Wujood (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Ptibaby (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, reminders after 3rd, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Cove Mountain (9-9) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (4) gd in May, 14 ran.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 6th of 14, 14l behind Huguenot (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Mix N Match 66-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, tracked winner until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 8, 49l behind Back To The Wind (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
