tracked winner, ridden after 3 out, every chance next, held last, stayed on same pace
held up on outside, pulled up after 2nd (tack problems)
held up, headway after 4th, ridden and lost place before 8th, soon well beaten
held up in rear, outpaced 7th, well beaten from next, pulled up after
led into start, made all, shaken up and in commad last, ridden out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, jumped right and unseated rider next
held up, not fluent 7th, headway when left 3rd next, mistake and outpaced 4 out, well held by front pair after
Monte Cavallo sets a fair standard on his defeat of subsequent winner Mulligan's Man at Bangor in May. Old Pals Act has been knocking on the door over hurdles while George Woolf and the five-year-old Ulis De Vassy are certainly worth bearing in mind for similar contests in the future. But PROFESSEUR EMERY, twice a winner around here last month over the smaller obstacles, will have had plenty of schooling and is fancied to make a winning start to his chase career.
Monte Cavallo (SAF) 13-2 (10-5) In touch in mid-division, pushed along after 5th, lost place before 2 out, 8th of 11, 21l behind Coffee (10-3) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (2) gf in Jun.
First Morning (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd or 5th, led next, headed after 7th, weakening when mistake 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, 50l behind Advisor (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
George Woolf 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led 3rd, not fluent and headed 4th, every chance 2 out, blundered last, weakened flat, 5th of 8, 11l behind Don't Be Late (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf in Jul.
Old Pals Act (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Always prominent, led 6th, jinked left before 3 out, edged right approaching last, headed flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Jigsaw Financial (10-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Professeur Emery (FR) 1-6fav (11-5) Made all, jumped well, clear before last, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul beating Osorios Trial (10-12) by 11l, 5 ran.
Red Whisper 10-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden before 3 out, no extra next, 5th of 13, 19l behind My Lord (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Jul.
Ulis De Vassy (FR) (10-5) 6th of 10, 18l behind Dasaint (10-12) at Compiegne(FR) 2m 5f chs in May.
