led narrowly to 1st, tracked winner, led again 4th, joined 10th, headed narrowly when fell 4 out
tracked front pair, left 2nd and sole rival when hampered 4 out, closed briefly and 2 lengths down 2 out, soon ridden, well held before last
detached in rear most of way, tailed off when went left and rider lost iron 8th, pulled up before next
led 1st, blundered and headed 4th, tracked leader, disputed lead from 10th, led again when left clear 4 out, blundered next, 2 lengths advantage 2 out, ridden and asserted clear again approaching last
El Terremoto would have been placed at worst last time at Perth had he not fallen at the last. A winner at Southwell in July, he sets a decent standard but Lough Derg Spirit is a big danger given he has already won between the flags and contested some hot handicaps last season over hurdles. COOL MIX could be a bit of value against the southern raiders, however, given his sire gets plenty of smart chasers and Iain Jardine’s grey was very progressive over timber last season, winning easily over this trip at Ayr in the spring. Gentleman James faces a hopeless task unless there is carnage among the other three.
El Terremoto (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Prominent, challenged 4 out, every chance when fell last, at Perth 2m 4f (3) gd in Sep.
Cool Mix 7-2fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd or 4 out, challenged 3 out, led next, clear flat, comfortably, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Castletown (10-0) by 7l, 13 ran.
Gentleman James 18-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, lost place next, 11th of 15, 25 1/2l behind Celtic Flames (11-13) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Lough Derg Spirit (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders before 3 out, hung right approaching 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, slightly hampered last, 10th of 19, 26 1/4l behind Soul Emotion (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
