held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, no impression
jumped right at times, made most until just after 3 out, weakened last
held up in rear, took keen hold, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear before last, easily
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, slow and lost place 4 out, weakened before next
NonRunner
Gortroe Joe’s career over fences this year has been stop-start and this may be a confidence-booster. The four-year-old Prabeni was running against older horses for the first time when second at Plumpton in April and he holds He's A Goer on that run. Ballymountain Boy may need this while The Vollan is still edging up the weights despite failing to win any of his last three. DOUBLY CLEVER has been going great guns at Worcester since switching stables and a hat-trick may be on the cards here, though the once-useful Zubayr has had a run on the Flat since returning to winning ways at Southwell in June.
Doubly Clever (IRE) 2-1 (11-3) Held up last, smooth progress on outside 7th, led going well 3 out, shaken up after 2 out, clear when ridden flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Jimmy Rabbitte (11-0) by 6l, 5 ran.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 5-1jfav (10-12) Always in rear, beaten 4 out, pulled up before next, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jul.
Prabeni 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader until 4 out, handy 3rd, 2nd again after 3 out until approaching next, kept on same pace in 3rd, plugged on into 2nd again final 110 yards, 2nd of 4, 2l behind It's Got Legs (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f (3) gd in Apr.
Ballymountain Boy (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader 2nd, led 4th, headed 6th, led 2 out, soon headed, no extra flat, 9th of 22, 8 1/4l behind Champagne Express (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
The Vollan (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Chased clear leader, closed after 4th, led 2 out, ridden and headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Doubly Clever (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
He's A Goer (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, well beaten before 3 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Doubly Clever (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Zubayr (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Raced keenly towards rear, ridden in mid-division 3f out, weakened, 13th of 19, 14 1/4l behind Timoshenko (8-0) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
