in rear, good headway to track leaders 4 out, led bend approaching 3 out, in command when fell 3 out
held up in rear, headway to track leaders 9th, ridden and outpaced bend approaching 3 out, left moderate 3rd approaching last
held up in touch, ridden 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off 10th, pulled up 3 out
prominent, mistake 1st, ridden and outpaced 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, mistake and left in lead after 3 out, clear and in command when unseated rider last
tracked leader, ridden and outpaced bend approaching 3 out, headway approaching last, hung badly left and led flat, driven out
held up, fell 1st
led, headed bend approaching 3 out, left in lead and hampered 3 out, soon headed, left in lead again last, headed flat, kept on one pace
in touch, reminders 3rd, ridden 8th, behind when blundered and unseated rider 10th
held up, mistake 5th and 7th, soon ridden, behind when pulled up 2 out
CARTIER OPERA is the call in this contest with Al Qanoon and Bid Art likely to represent most dangers. The selection was going well when tipping up at Hereford at the weekend but there have evidently been few ill effects and connections have been keen to come back to the track before a reassessment kicks in. Al Qanoon was never dangerous on handicap introduction but followers of the Scott team have had a good season so far with a level stakes profit of over 45 pounds. Bid Art has not translated his flat ability to the winter game but this is such a race that his claims cannot be ignored. Daramoon was held when taking a crashing fall at Uttoxeter last month and may be better suited by today's assignment. Sea Robber is exposed as moderate though a repeat of his run at Bangor in May would entitle him to sneak into the places. The presence of Cartier Opera seems to have scared of any of the meaningful opposition and with that in mind, we seek not to oppose him on this occasion.
Al Qanoon (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, badly hampered and nearly unseated rider bend after 7th, modest fifth after 3 out, left fourth last, 4th of 14, 21l behind R'Cam (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gd.
Daramoon (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 13th, went 2nd after 14th until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Classic Clover (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Sea Robber (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Chased leader until after 3rd, remained prominent, ridden and weakened 4 out, 4th of 5, 21l behind New Rackheath (10-12) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jun.
Cartier Opera 6-4fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, blundered and rider lost iron briefly first, mastake 6th, headway approaching 8th, blundered and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by The Walnut Tree (9-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Flashy Conquest 16-1 (9-13) Lunged right, jumped badly right throughout, behind, some headway 6th, struggling from 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Funny Fellow (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Form And Beauty (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 13, well behind Jug Of Punch (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (5) gd in Feb '06.
Bid Art (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Not always fluent, held up in touch, beaten in 4th when stumbled hampered and left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 29l behind Ask Oscar (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
Lady Romanov (IRE) 150-1 (10-7) In rear, detached from 3rd, soon tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Midnight Queen (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs.
Sparkbridge (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, never on terms, 7th of 14, well behind Carrolls Cross (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.