with leader, led 3rd, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, edged left approaching last, headed near finish
mistake 2nd, in rear after, lost touch from 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
always prominent, went 2nd 12th, ridden after 3 out, switched right approaching last, stayed on under strong pressure to lead near finish
held up, not fluent 12th, behind from 15th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened last
led to 3rd, pushed along before 9th, lost 2nd 12th, remained prominent, ridden after 3 out, rider dropped whip soon after 2 out, switched right flat, stayed on well towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, behind from 15th, mistake next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
FOURPOINTONE looks the obvious pick but Gumley Gale and Badger will make sure he has to work for it. A long but successful summer campaign holds the selection in good fettle but that may be beginning to take its toll. Was a winner in good style off a really competitive mark on his penultimate start, which was followed by a battling second last time after not jumping as fluently as normal. He won't mind the cut in the ground here and he races off a rating at which he can still be competitive. Gumley Gale could do with a favour from the assessor whose grip he has found a little tight in recent runs. He is still racing off a mark five pounds higher than his latest win but as his rating has fallen he has started to get back in the mix. Unchanged from his latest when third of 10 and the form from that not standing up he may have too much to do to win but should certainly be within touching distance. Badger is an unexposed eight-year-old, who ran a completive race last time to claim some prize money. The rise of three pounds for that effort may scupper chances of gold here but certainly seems competitive enough to challenge. Too much weight might be the problem for Amoreigh so the selection goes to Fourpointone.
Amoreigh (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Chased leader to 3rd, mistake 5th, dropped rear 12th, mistake 15th, soon weakened, 5th of 7, well behind Lough Rynn (10-4) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Gumley Gale 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, stayed on approaching 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Peut Etre Sivola (11-9) at Warwick 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
Fourpointone 3-1fav (11-12) In touch, outpaced 14th, joined leaders 3 out, close up, left 2nd last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Dillay Brook (11-9) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Top Dawn (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Behind, mistake 3rd, hit 6th, under pressure 8th, soon ridden and lost touch, well behind when pulled up at the 10th in race won by September Moon (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May, 10 ran.
Badger 33-1 (11-1) In touch, reminders after 8th, led 14th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Syncopated Rhythm (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Oct.
Zimbabwe (FR) 66-1 (9-11) Led until 6th, ridden approaching 11th, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Mistress Nell (10-7) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Pip Moss 18-1 (10-6) Led, headed 3rd, left in lead again 4th, headed 12th, soon weakened, ptailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Rifleman (11-1) at Hereford 3m 1f amt hcp chs (5) gd, 12 ran.
