held up towards rear, headway 8th, jumped left 10th, chased leaders 14th, blundered and unseated rider 17th
behind, mistake 7th, pulled up 15th
held up in touch, under pressure when mistake 15th, weakening when hampered 17th, sprawled on landing and unseated rider 4 out
always prominent, led approaching 3 out, clear before last, ran on
behind, never jumped well, pulled up 15th
tracked leaders, led 14th, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching last
led, headed 14th, weakened approaching 3 out, left in remote 3rd, tailed off
held up mid-division, mistake 12th, chased leaders 4 out, lost action and pulled up before next
Nonrunner
BALLYGULLEEN, Jackie Boy and River Ripples may be the three to concentrate on with preference for Bob Buckler's Towcester winner. That was the ex-Irish gelding's fourth start for the Somerset based trainer and his best performance to date. He has to race from a 7lb higher mark on his switch to the larger obstacles but looks progressive and has plenty of experience in the pointing field. Jackie Boy is beginning to get his act together over fences and should be able to win a small race although the handicapper hasn't taken any chances in raising him by another 3lbs for defeat at Worcester. River Ripples is closely matched with Jackie Boy on their running at Stratford in July and is better than he was able to show in the mud at Cartmel last time. You Can Of Course may find a little more for headgear, Not For Diamonds and Absolute Shambles are unexposed in this sphere and could improve so all three are worth considering but the recent, proven form of Ballygulleen holds sway.
Not For Diamonds (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 15, 33l behind Bob 'n' You (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Orana Conti (FR) 100-1 (10-2) In touch, weakened 5 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Tito Bustillo (10-12) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd, 16 ran.
Jackie Boy (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) Sometimes jumped right, tracked leaders, pecked 5th, led 7th, headed 14th, remained challenging, still every chance last, one pace flat, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Good Harvest (11-10) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Ballygulleen (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway next, went 2nd 2 out, led and went right last, stayed on under pressure, won at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf beating Avoine (9-4) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Pharaon de Touzaine (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 12th, left 3rd after next, weakening when pecked 4 out, 3rd of 7, 39l behind Matuhi (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf.
Absolute Shambles 10-1 (10-13) Prominent, mistake 3rd, ridden after 7th, outpaced after next, never dangerous after, 4th of 13, 32l behind Ring For Time (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
Killing Me Softly 10-1 (11-6) Chased leaders until approaching 6th, 9th of 12, 45l behind Legends Lass (10-11) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-85 (5) gs.
Jack Harbour (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Tracked leader, left in lead 3rd, headed 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, 41l behind Good Harvest (11-10) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
River Ripples (IRE) 3-1fav (11-11) Towards rear, headway 9th, ridden and weakend approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 36l behind Getinbybutonlyjust (11-5) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (4) hvy in Aug.
You Can of Course (IRE) 9-2fav (10-10) Prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 4th of 8, 4l behind Wizards Dust (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp 0-90 (5) gf.
