held up in rear, headway after 7th, chasing leaders 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
led to 1st, with leader, wandered 2nd, lost 2nd 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, pushed along after 6th, struggling in rear after next, went 3rd after last but no chance
held up, headway after 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, well behind when pulled up after 2 out
held up, not fluent 3rd, headway after 7th, chased leader approaching 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on well
led and hit 1st, headed 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, chased leader 6th, led 7th, headed 2 out, hung left approaching last, stayed on same pace
Luccombe Bay has won with plenty in hand in both starts this season and has every chance of completing a hat-trick today despite a 13lb rise in the weights for his latest success but the more testing ground here is of concern for John Quinn's gelding and preference is for BLACK MOGUL, who gets the verdict ahead of Mortimers Cross. The last mentioned was in good form last term, remains open to improvement and he has to be of interest on his handicap debut on his reappearance. Irish import Bleu Run made an encouraging debut for his new connections at Haydock earlier this month but has yet to show that he handles ground this testing, while The Abbots Habit does appreciate testing underfoot conditions but was well held on his recent return here. The vote then goes to Sue Smith's Black Mogul who is a confirmed performer on testing ground and comes into this in good form.
Aspolan (GER) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th 3 out, soon no extra when fell in race won by Go Native (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl gd in Jul, 13 ran.
Black Mogul 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 16, 25l behind Diamond Frontier (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Luccombe Bay 11-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led 3 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Even Flo (10-3) by 6l, 11 ran.
Bleu Run (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, prominent 8th, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on from next, 4th of 10, 6l behind Solway Minstrel (10-10) at Haydock 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Mortimers Cross 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division, lost place halfway, weakened 4 out, in 5th when blundered 2 out, 5th of 11, well behind Harry Wood (10-12) at Ayr 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
The Abbots Habit (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Chased leader to 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 24l behind Chunky Lad (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gs.
Minella Boys (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Always behind, 10th of 16, well behind Fredo (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (4) gf.
