chased leading trio, pushed along before 6th, 3rd on inside before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace flat
led until went left and narrowly headed 2nd, chased leader, slow jump 3rd, lost 2nd and weakened 3 out
chased leading pair, went 2nd after 3 out, soon every chance, still well there under pressure when mistake last, weakened flat
held up, mistake 4th, headway from 3 out, challenged on outside to narrow lead 2 out, went right before last, stayed on under pressure flat, headed post
held up in rear, mistake 7th, blundered next, some headway 3 out, hung right before 2 out, soon beaten and eased, tailed off
took keen hold, led 2nd, clear 5th, pressed when went left and headed 2 out, stayed well there, driven and rallied after last, no extra in 3rd close home
chased leading trio, mistake and weakened 7th, soon in rear, tailed off
held up in last trio, headway on outside before 2 out, challenged and wandered before last, stayed on strongly flat, led post, dismounted after line
Less aggressive tactics may pay dividends on SIR BERE. Ridden with vigour last month on his first start since April, the Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding failed to last home but did seem to improve in cheek-pieces which remain on today. Prince Tom should set up the market on his return but he didn't blow us away in two Newton Abbot runs earlier this year and might struggle to concede weight to all of his rivals. Forest Rhythm runs this track well so commands respect, along with Grand Bay with McCoy back on top and the visor added to the usual tongue-tie. Folie A Deux is fairly-handicapped, whilst Parazar and Unleashed both look a bit on the slow side.
Prince Tom 7-4 (11-0) Tracked leader until 3rd, not fluent 5th, went 2nd again next, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, still strong challenge when bad mistake at hurdle, not able to recover, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Atlantic Coast (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gf in Jun.
Sir Bere (FR) 4-1 (10-6) Set modest pace, ridden and quickened approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Lamb's Cross (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Forest Rhythm (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened going to 2 out, 5th of 10, 24l behind Dream Catcher (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jul.
Unleashed (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Held up in last pair, mistake 7th, reminder 8th, headway soon after, led 9th, ran slightly wide and headed bend approaching 2 out, soon hung left and mistake at hurdle, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Theologist (10-12) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Grand Bay (USA) 4-1 (11-2) Held up behind, hit 4th, 7th when mistake and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Buailteoir (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sep, 8 ran.
Folie A Deux (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Narrow lead until 3rd, tracked leaders, lost ground on front rank approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd after last, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Sir Ian (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Sep.
Parazar (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leader until 4th, prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 44l behind Winning Show (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sep.
Uffa Fox (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind My Pal Val (11-4) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Jun.
