chased leaders, went 2nd after 5th until slow 12th, no extra 2 out
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, outpaced from 11th, well held after 3 out
held up, headway from 13th, ridden and went 3rd last, kept on, no impression
made all, driven flat, held on well
chased winner until after 5th, went 2nd again 12th, held flat, stayed on
held up, closed from 12th, lost 3rd last, no extra flat
NonRunner
Global Tour made a winning start over fences at Bangor but couldn’t cope with a 6lb rise at Perth in August. Court Master is 2-3 over the larger obstacles and has had wind surgery since well beaten at Cheltenham in January. Bootlegger, on the other hand, has yet to show much in two chase runs but did win over hurdles last season. Denmead burst a blood vessel when tailed off at Stratford in July while Minella For Me and De Plotting Shed are approaching the veteran stage now. NIGHTFLY managed only one run last term so there are fitness concerns. But he’s won three times over fences, with his last victory coming off a 2lb higher mark, so could be worth a small interest with Brian Hughes doing the steering.
Bootlegger (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 3 out, soon headed, every chance when not fluent 2 out, held flat, kept on, 4th of 7, 3l behind Native Fighter (10-8) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Nightfly 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before omitted 3 out, 6th of 13, 9l behind Darebin (11-1) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Global Tour (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Held up in rear, pushed along 7th, not fluent next, weakened before 3 out, pitched on landing last, 5th of 8, 33 1/2l behind Lucky Flight (10-10) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Denmead 5-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 2nd, jumped right 10th, headed next, outpaced 4 out, weakened after next, 5th of 7, dist behind Leoncavallo (10-12) at Stratford 2m 5f (3) gd in Jul.
Court Master (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Led 2nd, headed 5th, every chance 4 out, lost place before 2 out, 8th of 12, 28l behind Simply The Betts (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Minella For Me (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) In touch main group, pushed along after 5 out, never near leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Benny's Secret (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Jarlath 14-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, outpaced after 5 out, stayed on after 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 28 1/2l behind Copper West (10-4) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
De Plotting Shed (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and stayed on same pace from 2 out, 7th of 9, 23 1/2l behind Fanzio (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
