tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led before next, ridden clear flat, stayed on
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 3rd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, unable to get on terms
held up in rear on inside, slow 5th, well behind 3 out, never involved
prominent, not fluent 3rd, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, slow 3rd, losing touch when mistake next, tailed off
mid-division, took keen hold, some headway 5th, modest 4th 2 out until towards finish
held up, jumped right 1st, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th towards finish, never dangerous
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner when edged right flat, stayed on
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace, 4th and beaten when veered right to follow loose horse before 2 out, ducked back left and unseated rider
in rear when landed steeply, knuckled and unseated rider 1st
led, not that fluent, headed 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, mistake 2 out, never any chance
Blairs Cove won here in May and was second under a penalty at the track shortly after. Though he’s had a break, Dan Skelton’s novice is likely to start favourite for this, though the drop in trip is a concern. Sword Of Fate won a maiden bumper at Exeter in April on his debut under Rules and should make a hurdler but the same can be said of HIDDEN OASIS. A three-times winner on the Flat, he showed up well for a long way at Worcester last month and will know more today. Lexington Law was winless on the level but was placed on numerous occasions and his lack of pace will be less of a handicap over timber.
Blairs Cove 10-11fav (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Talkischeap (11-6) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in May.
Canyon City 20-1 (10-0) Held up in last pair, never on terms, last of 9, dist behind Seafarer (9-4) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Ld/disp on inner, b mstk 2out & lost momentum, 2l 2nd when not fluent last, ko, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind First Approach (11-11) at Dromahane 3m mdn gd in Apr.
Chatelier (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, outpaced from 4 out, in remote 4th before 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, dist behind Gustave Mahler (10-12) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in May.
Demand Respect 66-1 (8-7) Behind and ridden along, hanging left over 1f out, no impression, 10th of 14, 10 1/4l behind Luath (9-4) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Apr.
Hidden Oasis (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, jumped left and not fluent 1st, closed after 5th, 3rd 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Mcgroarty (11-5) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Aug.
Lexington Law (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 13 1/2l behind Essenaitch (8-9) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Sword Of Fate (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to track leaders over 4f out, went 2nd 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden clear from over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Apr beating Koala Keel (11-5) by 10l, 10 ran.
Wenceslaus (GER) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 35l behind Kings Ryde (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep.
Balmont Belle (IRE) 100-1 (8-12) Towards rear, pushed along 4f out, never on terms, 9th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Big Time Dancer (9-8) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (6) gs in Sep.
Eastern Lady (IND) 33-1 (9-3) Difficult loading, steadied start, held up last, some headway on outside over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 16 1/2l behind Becca Campbell (9-12) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Simply Business (FR) 12-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 5th, went 4th from 3 out, never dangerous, lost further ground on rivals from home bend, tailed off, 4th of 8, dist behind Flashing Glance (10-12) at Stratford 2m (4) gs in Sep.
