held up in last pair, bumped 6th, struggling in 5th when hit 4 out, no chance after, left remote 4th and hampered last
raced wide chasing leaders until lost place and behind 4th, struggling before 10th, never on terms after, tailed off
chased leader until before 4 out, handy 3rd, disputing 2nd place when mistake 2 out, weakened home turn, duelling for well held 3rd when fell last
led, went clear 10th until hit next hard, headed home turn, weakened into 3rd soon after
tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 4 out, led going well home turn, almost joined last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in
held up in last pair, closer out wide chasing leaders before 4 out, went 2nd home turn, almost upsides when bumped last, ridden and no extra run-in
chased leaders out wide, mistake and bumped 6th, lost place when mistake 8th, tailed off next, pulled up 2 out
Cracking Destiny won off a higher mark around this time last year but has not been in the same form recently. After winning easily over track and trip in May, Lock's Corner failed to stay 3m2f at Uttoxeter and was pulled up. He looks capable of picking up a decent handicap on good going this season and is preferred to Yccs Portocervo, who is back in form but was well behind Mercian Prince at Kempton in the autumn. COURTANDBOULD (NAP) jumped well here last month and has bags of scope so looks the one to be on as the handicapper hasn’t gone overboard.
Espoir De Teillee (FR) (10-5) 6th of 8, dist behind L'autonomie (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 5f sft in Apr.
Lock's Corner (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Held up, pushed along after 6 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp lst (1) gd in Jun.
Courtandbould (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Jumped well, led, driven after 2 out, headed last, rallied gamely flat, led again close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gd in Jul beating Beyond The Clouds (11-10) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Chased leader 1st until after 4th, stayed handy, weakened 2 out, 9th of 16, 27 3/4l behind Francky Du Berlais (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jul.
Cracking Destiny (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Chased leaders, challenged approaching 2 out, no impression on winner from last, 2nd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Solar Impulse (11-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Yccs Portocervo (FR) 13-8fav (11-0) Held up in touch on inside, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, headed just after last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Neville's Cross (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Storm Rising (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Chased leaders out wide, ridden and weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 36l behind Leapaway (11-7) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
