held up behind leader, cruised into lead turning for home, pushed approaching last, readily drew clear after last, eased down late on
held up behind leader, 3rd when pushed after 2 out, ridden entering home straight, keeping on but held when bad mistake last, dropped to 4th late on
held up towards rear, hit 7th (water), mistake 4 out and pushed, left behind from 3 out, well beaten
held up towards rear, 4th when pushed after 3 out, ridden before last where went 2nd, stayed on behind easy winner
led, ridden and headed turning for home, 4th jumping last, stayed on to grab 3rd late on
in rear, mistake 4th, still last but not asked any questions when hit 10th and fell
Ben Pauling has his summer string in excellent heart and Pencreek should go well for the Gloucestershire handler. He battled on well to secure the spoils on his latest start and has incurred an acceptable 4lb rise as a result. Trip and ground are fine. Fabrique En France is consistent but is also probably where the handicapper wants him and Fire Squadron has been beaten a long way on both maiden hurdle starts this term and now tackles fences for the first time. Improvement will be needed. PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL is also a chasing recruit but his overall form profile makes greater appeal and he looks the sort to do well over larger obstacles. He wasn't beaten far last time, receives 12lb from the topweight and his yard has hit a good seam of form recently.
Pencreek (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Waited with in rear, smooth headway out wide after 7th, went 2nd turning in, challenged and hit 2 out, upsides last, driven ahead towards finish, won at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Elios D'Or (11-4) by nk, 7 ran.
Fabrique En France (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Chased leader, not always fluent, led and jumped left 3 out, headed before last, soon beaten, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Wasdell Dundalk (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Fire Squadron (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Jumped and hung right, led, not fluent 1st, wandered into and blundered 5th, headed 6th, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 9, 34l behind Sure Touch (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Punxsutawney Phil (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, went 2nd 2 out until last, kept on same pace flat, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 6, 4 3/4l behind Kayfast Warrior (10-11) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Smith's Bay 12-1 (11-1) Jumped right, led until last, soon led again, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind On Springs (11-10) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Peckinpah (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) In rear, moved closer 3 out (usual 4 out) but soon pushed, ridden into 3rd after 2 out, lost 3rd late on, 4th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Trumps Benefit (11-1) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
