led and jumped right throughout, jumped right and headed when blundered badly 5 out, not recover, left 4th 4 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside 6 out, in 3rd when fell 4 out
held up towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened, eased before 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 5 out
held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 10th, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead last, soon edged right and wandered flat, kept on well
held up in touch, pushed along after 5 out, soon weakened, hit last
held up in touch in 4th, pushed along after 5 out, held when left 3rd 4 out, no impression
tracked leader, led 5 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on flat
always behind, weakened after 5 out, hampered 4 out, pulled up before next
Any rain would suit mudlark Daldini but he is hard to fancy otherwise with Grand Lahou offering little appeal at the top of the weights and off a career high mark. Kirkhammerton had some good runs over the summer including back-to-back wins but is now the highest he has been in the ratings. Nikos Extra performs well when fresh but there is more to like about FIT TO DRIVE who runs off the same mark as when she last won. In this very competitive looking race any market movements could be worth monitoring but Fit To Drive is adept over the fences and the trainer has a reasonable record with chase entries here in recent seasons. The trip is a concern for Film Festival who has had his best runs over shorter distances. Drever Route generally jumps well and could be one of the bigger threats to our selection along with General Hardi who generally needs a run or two to open the pipes after a break to hit top form.
Grand Lahou (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Led, mistake 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, 42l behind Palomar (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Sep.
Nikos Extra (FR) 3-1fav (11-6) Mid-division, reminder after 9th, headway 3 out, no impression 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 13, 7l behind Warpath (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Fit To Drive 7-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, effort to chase leading trio under pressure before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 7, 7l behind Soulard (11-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Daldini 16-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, hed up in rear, headway 18th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 6th of 10, 36l behind General Hardi (10-0) at Sedgefield 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Drever Route (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Always prominent, went 2nd briefly when blundered 3 out, ridden after 2 out, left 2nd when hampered last, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Quito Du Tresor (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
General Hardi 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Soubriquet (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Kirkhammerton (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden next, stayed on under pressure flat to go 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Songe (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Film Festival (USA) 4-1 (10-5) Prominent, led after 8th until 4 out, not fluent and no impression 3 out, stayed on well flat to grab 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Oneway (11-7) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Sep.
War Party 8-1 (11-4) Held up behind, headway into mid-division 4th, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged and every chance when mistake next, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure from next, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Diaco (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
