held up in 4th, pushed along before 11th, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, jumped right last, held flat
in rear, reminder 8th, soon behind, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, ridden after 11th, weakened from 2 out, mistake last
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, mistake 9th, went 4th before 3 out, well held 2 out, went 3rd flat
chased leader, mistake 11th, led 4 out, jumped left last 3 fences, stayed on
Beni Light won a couple of times between the flags in the spring but is 0-9 under Rules and, like a couple of his rivals, returning from a break. Fitness may also be an issue for Still Believing and Greybougg but Midnight Maestro seems to be getting his act together and Elkstone is slipping down the weights. SAMSON has been a bit disappointing since scoring at Worcester in July but first-time blinkers should help so he gets one more chance.
Midnight Maestro 16-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, no extra and lost 3rd close home, 4th of 12, 9 1/2l behind Topofthecotswolds (11-5) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Greybougg 9-2 (11-12) Veered right start, chased leaders, led 3rd until next, chased leader until before 5th where jumped slowly, losing place when blundered and unseated rider 7th, at Catterick 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Still Believing (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway 6 out, beaten 4 out, left in modest 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 7, 24l behind The Bay Birch (12-0) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Samson 5-2 (11-8) Led until before 3rd, remained prominent, mistake 4 out, lost place after next, in rear when mistake 2 out, rallied last, stayed on into modest 4th closing stages, 4th of 5, 26 1/2l behind Working Class (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Elkstone 7-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 10th, hit 12th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Mr Mafia (11-0) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Beni Light (FR) 2-5fav (12-0) Made all; drew clr 7; unchall, won at Bredwardine 3m in May beating Brass In Pocket (12-0) by 25l, 6 ran.
