tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led approaching 2 out, kept on well
led, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened and lost 2nd place flat
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up behind, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced approaching 4 out, kept on from 2 out, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression from 2 out
held up, pushed along after 5th, soon weakened
held up, pushed along after 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
held up mid-division, pushed along after 4th, tailed off
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
Despite being perhaps a little quirky we'll take WEATHER FRONT to confirm placings with Tora Petcha, while Peaceful Means should take advantage if neither are at their best. The last-named won at Worcester last time by a wide margin, for which he has gone up 10lbs. The concern is not only the rise, but also the fact that he is at his best when the ground is genuinely good, as opposed to today's quicker conditions so we'll just oppose. Tora Petcha is 2lbs better off with the selection for finishing a little under three lengths adrift when they met at Huntingdon last month, but Weather Front cost himself some ground that day by going markedly right at the last and was value for better. Fast ground suits them both and it should be close. Galiana is happy when the conditions are quick, so is not ruled out, while So Brash is just too far out of the handicap to get us interested. Weather Front can storm home.
Weather Front 7-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, soon led, went right and not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug beating Tora Petcha (10-13) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Arondo (GER) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, attempted to run out at stable yard gate before 5 out, soon towards rear, mistake and no extra from 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Let Yourself Go (11-9) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f beg chs in Aug.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, remindered 4f out, ridden approaching next, weakened 2f out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Front Rank (10-13) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Aug.
Galiana (GER) 10-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, headway in 10th 2 out, ridden into moderate 6th before last, no impression in 4th last, kept on same pace, 4th of 20, 22l behind Dr Kildare (10-3) at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 80-102 in Aug.
Peaceful Means (IRE) 7-2fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, pushed along approaching 3 out, led 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd beating Star Tenor (10-7) by 13l, 9 ran.
Haka Dancer (USA) 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed up when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Royal Rationale (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep '08, 12 ran.
Fleeting Chance (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led, mistake 3 out, ridden before straight, headed and weakened from 2 out, 11th of 19, 13l behind Deal Or No Deal (11-10) at Listowel 2m hcp hdl 8Evens09.
Loom (GER) 5-2fav (11-12) Always behind, 8th of 11, well behind Industrial Star (11-4) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, keen early, headway when not fluent 5th, strong challenge 2 out, edged right between last 2, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Weather Front (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Caliban (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, pushed along after 6th, lost place 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 12, 26l behind Meet The Parents (11-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
So Brash (IRE) 5-2fav (10-3) In touch, took closer order 6th, outpaced after 8th, stayed on again from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Prince Zafonic (11-12) at Exeter 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
