held up and pulled early, stayed 4th, ridden patiently when hit 4 out, headway from 3 out, challenging when left clear last, pushed out
prominent, chased leaders 4 out, led on bit 3 out, shaken up and fell on last
led to 6th, blundered 11th, not fluent 12th, ridden 13th, 2 weakened, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, headway and chased leader 13th, ridden 3 out, weakening when blundered 2 out
chased leader, disputed lead 5th, led 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, held when hampered last
held up rear, going well when fell 10th
held up, blundered badly first and soon pulled up
mid-division, headway and chased leader 13th, every chance four out, running on one pace when left 2nd last
ORACLE DES MOTTES may rather harshly have gone up 9lbs for his win at Exeter last month but the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding is clearly fit and in form, may well be open to further improvement and he is taken to follow up that success, getting the verdict ahead of Yaboya and Kilcrea Asla. Tom George has had his team in good form during the summer and his son of Oscar can race off the same mark as when a fair second to Water Taxi at Market Rasen when last seen in August so he has to be respected. It is to be hoped that Farmer's Lad jumps better than he did at Fontwell on his reappearance when unseating his rider, while Shoudawoudacouda also unseated his jockey in the same race and is another that is probably best watched today. Yaboya is better than his most recent form suggests and he has clearly had his problems having not been seen since January but Philip Hobbs has his string in good form now and he could be well treated if able to reproduce some of his old form. With doubts over several of his rivals though it is easy to see why Oracle Des Mottes is the selection. (Nick Millard)
Oracle des Mottes (FR) 4-1jt-fav (11-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led 10th, headed 4 out, led 3 out, soon ridden, kept on well from last, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct beating Go For One (11-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Mid-division on inside, headway to track leader 4 out, led before next, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Water Taxi (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Yaboya (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 9th until after 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, 35l behind Randwick Roar (10-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Shoudawoudacouda (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Held up, blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Monzon (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Farmer's Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 4 out, close 4th when blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Monzon (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 14, 44l behind The Hollow Bottom (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Oct.
Silver Inngot (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 11th, every chance approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 13, 20l behind Oracle des Mottes (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 11, 12l behind Smoke Trail (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
