chased leaders, lost place 6th, reminders 8th, behind when blundered next, tailed off
led, clear approaching 6th until driven before last, no extra and headed close home
raced wide, held up in last pair, never really on terms, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, chased winner 8th until before 3 out, weakened and not fluent 2 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, reminder next, tracked leading pair 2 out, chased leader well before last, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
mistake and unseated rider 1st
chased winner until approaching 8th, weakened soon after, modest 4th from 2 out
in touch, headway to 3rd 8th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression when weakened to 3rd well before last
Bold Perk earns full marks for consistency but today's ground may be faster than ideal and he's taking on slightly better opposition than usual. Fort View still has plenty of scope and could be interesting with his regular pilot taking off 7lb but Pickamus has a bit to prove after a disappointing last 12 months and Storm Of Applause is an infrequent winner nowadays. Iona Days finally got off the mark at Cartmel in August but this is a much better contest so we'll give the vote to LORD RYEFORD. Tom George's 11-year-old was punished for his victory at Bangor in July but the runner-up has franked the form since and the gelding's latest fifth at Fontwell showed that he is still in decent form. With plenty in his favour today, he can bounce back to winning ways.
Fort View (IRE) 7-4 (11-1) Chased leading pair, slow 3rd, not fluent next, pushed along before 10th, dropped to last at 14th, stayed on to moderate 4th 2 out, 4th of 5, 13l behind Quattrocento (10-2) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) fm in May.
Pickamus (FR) 50-1 (10-2) Mid-division, fell 10th (bechers), in a race won by Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Otage De Brion (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place from 8th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Persian Gates (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs, 11 ran.
Restoration (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost place when not fluent 12th, behind before 3 out, pulled up approaching next, in a race won by Power Pack Jack (10-3) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Sep, 12 ran.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, ridden in 6th after 4 out, beaten when hung right after 2 out, hung left flat, 5th of 14, 9l behind Rio Gael (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Sep.
Bold Perk (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Made all, took keen hold, pressed 4 out, jumped right last, kept on gamely run-in, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf beating Calypso Bay (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Storm of Applause (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leading trio, not fluent 4th, ridden before 11th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Life Of A Luso (11-2) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Iona Days (IRE) 13-8fav (10-7) In touch, close up last, driven to lead flat, kept on well, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Aug beating Golden Dream (10-6) by 7l, 5 ran.
