tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out
raced keenly, pressed leader, hit 8th, led after 3 out, soon headed, hanging right when weakening before 2 out
held up in rear, headway 6th, lost place after 9th, rallied 11th, led after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, hung left thereafter, all out
in touch, chased winner after 3 out, jumped left and bumped 2 out, every chance when jumped left last, stayed on flat
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, well in touch when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, jumped right and bumped 4th, close 3rd when badly hampered 2 out, stayed on flat
made most until headed after 3 out, soon outpaced, stayed on flat
mid-division, jumped left and bumped 4th, headway next, outpaced 3 out, stayed on flat
raced keenly, soon in rear, tailed off 4 out, soon hanging left
CELTIC BOY can extend his winning tally in this handicap chase, while both Evelith Echo and Borora are others to note. The selection will have to put in a personal best after gaining a further seven pounds in the ratings for his recent course and distance success. However at his peak he was rated as high as 139 when trained by Peter Bowen so if anywhere near his best he could still be potentially well handicapped. Evelith Echo is only two pounds higher for winning a chase at Market Rasen last month. He had looked a promising novice when trained by Alan King and has continued to improve now he is in the hands of John Quinn so is worthy of respect. Borora has top weight to over come and although he won nicely at Wetherby back in May he struggled to recapture that form at Southwell last time out and more will be required. Celtic Boy is well treated on his best form so looks the percentage call.
Borora 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went close 2nd 11th until 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 17l behind Gaelic Flight (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Nelson's Spice (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden and weakened 11th, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Nostringsattached (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Jul.
Gaelic Flight (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Chased leader to 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 11, 12l behind Histoire De Moeurs (9-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Jul.
Evelith Echo 7-4 (11-9) Held up in 3rd, went 2nd 8th, challenged when pecked 2 out, driven to lead flat, stayed on towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Aug beating Just Like That (10-3) by 1l, 4 ran.
Armenian Boy (FR) 2-1fav (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 3 out, headed flat, no extra, 4th of 8, 6l behind Fairoak Lad (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov stks (4) gf in Aug.
Celtic Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 4th, went 2nd approaching 8th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, regained lead before last, stayed on well flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating The Rocking Dock (11-9) by 7l, 6 ran.
Marrel 6-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, headway 2 out, went 2nd on home bend, kept on, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Reel Charmer (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Aug.
Warpath (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, joined leader 10th, weakened 4 out, 8th of 17, 26l behind Backstage (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
Midnight Gold 9-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, chased leaders when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 29l behind Reel Charmer (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Aug.
Kings Brook 50-1 (10-9) Towards rear, mistake 6th, struggling from next, pulled up after 9th, in a race won by Ordre de Bataille (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
