held up in touch, mistake 6th, headway 9th, went 3rd after 11th, not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last
led until approaching 3rd, left in lead 7th, headed 9th, lost place when mistake 10th, no impression after, mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, hampered 7th, went 2nd 11th, challenged 2 out, led flat, driven out
chased leaders, weakened 9th, mistake next, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 7th, not fluent next or 10th, weakened after 11th
mistake 4th, always in rear, pulled up before 4 out
jumped slightly right, prominent, led approaching 3rd until 4th, led 9th, ridden after 4 out, headed flat, stayed on, just held
mid-division, headway 11th, 4th when blundered 3 out, no impression, went 3rd after last
held up in rear, headway 11th, soon weakened, mistake 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden in rear 8th, modest 6th 4 out
took keen hold, prominent, led 4th until fell 7th
A 7lb penalty may not be enough to prevent FROSTED GRAPE from galloping these into submission and she gets a confident vote. Tom Scudamore will be glad of the penalty having got himself down to a very low weight to ride this filly last time when, after surviving a blunder at the first, the pair romped to a 19-length success. She's already shown a liking for this track and providing she gets into a rhythm the others may be playing for second. That spot could go to Risk Challenge, who is weighted to the best of his hurdles form but the gelding is unexposed over fences and jumped better last time. Western Pride got off the mark at the 12th time of asking here last time but 2m4f may stretch him and a 9lb rise is harsh, Pagan Sword is 8lbs higher than when disappointing at Stratford and Take A Mile also look in the handicapper's grip, unlike Frosted Grape.
Take A Mile (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Held up in 4th/5th, slipped up on bend approaching 4th, in a race won by City Heights (11-9) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Jul, 7 ran.
Pagan Sword 5-2fav (10-13) Towards rear, mistake 7th (water), pushed along next, headway approaching 11th, chased winner next until weakened after last, 5th of 7, 26l behind Inmate (10-7) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Another Trump (NZ) 22-1 (10-3) Held up behind on outside, struggling 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off 2 out, 8th of 9, well behind Alazan (10-6) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Aug.
Sternenzelt (GER) 33-1 (11-4) Led until ridden after 6th, weakened after next, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Arcadia Boy (11-1) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in last, modest 8th last, stayed on flat, never nearer, 5th of 12, 16l behind January (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Risk Challenge (USA) 11-4 (11-4) Held up, hampered and left 3rd 4th, went 2nd and challening when stumbled slightly 3 out, not fluent next, switched right soon after, not fluent last, no impression flat, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind More Like It (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Aug.
Frosted Grape (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) With leader, mistake 1st, led approaching 9th, clear 4 out, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Courella (11-8) by 19l, 8 ran.
McQueen (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Led to 4 out, lost place after next, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 8, 19l behind Magnetic Pole (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
Western Pride 66-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, driven out, won at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Aug beating Red Birr (11-3) by 1l, 11 ran.
Mad Professor (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) In rear, reminders after 6th, stayed on from 3 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Master Charm (11-12) at Southwell 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May.
Intense Suspense (IRE) 9-2fav (9-12) Tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, struggling before 3 out, 8th of 11, 30l behind Strumble Head (10-13) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Aug.
