held up in 6th, riddden and struggling in rear 11th, mistake next, went poor 5th before 4 out, hit next and not fluent 2 out, plugged on
made all, hit 12th, clear 17th, pecked badly 3 out, stayed on strongly, ridden out, unchallenged
chased winner until hit 3rd, hit next, stayed in 3rd, ridden and no impression when hit 2 out, weakened to 4th flat
held up in rear, mistake 5th (water), jumped big next, went 4th at 17th, hit 4 out, stayed on to 3rd flat but never any chance with winner
in touch in 5th, went 4th at 4th, pushed along 16th, ridden along and struggling 18th, plugged on same pace from next
chased leading pair, not fluent 2nd, lost place and not travelling from 4th, mistake 8th, ridden 15th, struggling after, behind and no chance when blundered 2 out, tailed off
chased winner from 3rd, driven after 4 out, soon no chance, kept on for 2nd
Withdrawn
On their recent Chepstow running Templer is entitled to finish ahead of Gullible Gordon despite being 7lb worse off today and Philip Hobbs's nine-year-old is also more likely to handle this ground but it is to his other runner, FAIROAK LAD, that we turn for the selection. The useful Giles Hawkins claims 5lb off the back of this decent stayer, who had over two lengths to spare over Gullible Gordon when the pair met here earlier in the year. He acts on good to firm ground and a recent pipe-opener can have him spot-on for this. Simply Smashing is weighted to be very close to Templer judged on their recent tussle at Stratford and, as a thorough stayer, is feared.
Fairoak Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Towards rear, pushed along 7th, soon struggling, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, kept on to go moderate 3rd flat, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Ben's Folly (9-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Gullible Gordon (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Never travelled in in touch, lost place and driven along 8th, driven in 5th after 13th, stayed on under pressure from after next, never in contention, 4th of 11, 16l behind Ballycarney (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs.
Templer (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, chased winner 5 out, closed and driven to challenge before last, stayed on flat, always held, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Ballycarney (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs.
Present M'lord (IRE) 50-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, soonn struggling, tailed off, soon pulled up after 5 out, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Mistake 1st, in rear when blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Quattrocento (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 18 ran.
Simply Smashing (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Made virtually all, ridden and hard pressed by 2nd from 2 out, stayed on gamely to gain control from last, won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Sep beating Templer (11-4) by 5l, 10 ran.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, reminders after 15th, one pace and beaten last, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Cape Tribulation (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs.
Cullahill (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened 10th, tailed off, 6th of 11, 40l behind Ballycarney (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs.
