held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led when not fluent last, driven out
took keen hold, led, ridden and headed before last, no extra flat
not always fluent, held up towards rear, well beaten before 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistake 2 out, soon beaten, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, well beaten 2 out
prominent on outside, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, mistake 2nd, jumped right 5th, weakened before 2 out
prominent, not fluent 1st or 3 out, challenged after 2 out, led before last, soon headed, every chance flat, held close home
tracked leaders, lost place before 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, headway after 2 out, not fluent last, went 3rd flat, unable to challenge
held up in rear, headway when not fluent 2 out, 4 lengths 5th and staying on when fell last
Converts from the Flat generally do well around here so Final Countdown, Tobacco Road and Ralphy Lad go on the short-list in what is no better than an ordinary maiden. Crickel Wood ran well behind Regulation at Warwick last month while Star Foot had decent form in bumpers in Ireland earlier this year. WAR ON THE ROCKS won a bumper here in March, when Poulanassy was fourth, and was then third over course and distance in June under a penalty. He should do well over timber and can make a winning start in this with Normandy King probably best of the rest.
Arctic Gold (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, closed before 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 9, 21l behind Where's Tiger (10-12) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Sep.
Crickel Wood (FR) 11-4fav (10-12) Prominent, not fluent and lost a bit of ground on leaders 4th, mistake when closing 3 out, challenging when left in lead 2 out, headed last, one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Regulation (11-5) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Double Court (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Tried to refuse and unseated rider 1st, at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Final Countdown 7-1 (9-10) Midfield, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Entity (8-8) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Lined With Silver (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leader, hampered 5f out, soon lost place, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Persian Delight (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f (5) sft in Feb.
Normandy King (IRE) 4-1fav (10-13) Held up, headway 3f out, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, went 2nd and edged left over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Lillian (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f (6) gd in Jun.
Poulanassy (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Led, hard driven when headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 7 3/4l behind War On The Rocks (11-4) at Stratford 2m mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Ralphy Lad (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Always towards rear, never involved, 9th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Blue Hussar (9-12) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Star Foot (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Took keen hold and tracked leaders early, 8th before halfway, closed up into 3rd into straight, soon ridden, pressed winner and kept on without getting there closing stages, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Exactoris (11-7) at Roscommon 2m Good - Yielding in Aug.
Tobacco Road (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Tracked leader, led 9f out, ridden over 1f out, kept slight lead when strongly pressed final furlong, headed and not quicken final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Norway Cross (9-5) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
War On The Rocks (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, in 3rd and ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Alyasan (11-1) at Stratford 2m (6) gd in Jun.
Boogangoo (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders on wide outside over 2f out, stayed on well, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Fitzwilly (9-10) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Gentle Mel (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) In rear, not fluent 4th, soon lost touch, 8th of 9, dist behind Canicallyouback (11-5) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Jopaan (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off 4 out, 10th of 11, dist behind Argot (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 2f (4) gd in Sep.
