tracked leading pair, not fluent and lost 3rd briefly 7th, switched right and challenging for 2nd when not fluent 4 out, rallied when pecked 2 out, 3rd and held when left modest 2nd and hampered last
jumped well, led, pressed from 5 out, shaken up before 3 out, headed when left in clear lead at the last
held up tracking leaders, went 3rd briefly 7th, 2nd before 4 out, led approaching when crumpled on landing and fell last
chased winner, pushed along and lost 2nd before 4 out, soon beaten, mistake 2 out, left remote 3rd at the last
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Sword Of Fate has been in better form of late but is racing from out of the handicap. PENCREEK (NAP) couldn’t match the finishing speed of Geromino in a match at Stratford last time but the winner scored easily off a 5lb higher mark subsequently so Ben Pauling’s novice might be worth another chance, though this has an open look about it. Whoshotthesheriff won this last year when 4lb lower but Tardree fell on his only previous run over fences this year. Frimeur De Lancray was only beaten a head off this mark over course and distance in March, however, and Saint Arvans still has a bit of scope.
Whoshotthesheriff (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place 13th, pushed along to go second before 3 out, lost second next, ridden approaching last, faded flat, 5th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Beakstown (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Apr.
Tardree (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Led, not fluent 6th, ridden and headed after 2 out, soon weakened, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Bella Bliss (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 6f (4) gd in Aug.
Saint Arvans (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Made all, not fluent normal 5 out, holding 2nd from final bend, stayed on, won at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Lord Torranaga (12-0) by 2l, 4 ran.
Sword Of Fate (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Disputed lead until before 2nd, chased winner, ridden 2 out, not fluent last, held flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Tico Times (11-6) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Pencreek (FR) 10-11 (11-4) Raced close up, pressed leader 2 out, pushed along home turn, ridden and no impression before last, soon well held, last of 2, 8l behind Geromino (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Frimeur De Lancray (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leader, not fluent 5th, led after 12th, headed 3 out, rallied flat, just held, 2nd of 8, shd behind Ecume Atlantique (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Niven (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, no impression, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 28 3/4l behind Scene Not Herd (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
