tracked leader, ridden after 9th, outpaced 3 out, no impression last, weakened flat
led, ridden approaching 8th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, dropped to last 6th, not fluent 9th, headway 3 out, chased winner when not fluent last, pressing flat, held close home
held up in touch in rear, closed 6th, mistakes 7th, 8th and 9th, pressing for 2nd briefly before 3 out, held from next, weakened flat
tracked leaders, ridden after 9th, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, edged bothways and coaxed along flat, held on
If the handicapper is right Pinerock will take the beating here with a rating of 110, but he unseated AP at the first last time and is winless from 11 starts so we'll side with the entirely more solid NORTH ISLAND. Peter Bowen's charge is a versatile type who sees out the trip well and he looked to have more left in the tank when winning at Bangor, suggesting he can defy a penalty at this stage of the season. Rifleman returns to hurdles having been going well over fences lately but he's not getting any younger and even on his best form may struggle, while Stormyisland Ahead would only become of interest if market support arrived; he's not been with the yard long and will be found races.
North Island (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, driven out, won at Bangor 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Majestic Mayhem (11-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
Rifleman (IRE) 11-2 (9-12) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, 5th of 9, 23l behind That's Rhythm (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Stormyisland Ahead 6-1 (11-2) Narrow leader, headed approaching 4th, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 4th of 5, 21l behind Island Oscar (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Easyfix (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, 11l behind Hard And Fast (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f sell (5) gf in Aug '09.
Pinerock (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Swerved right and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Miss Franklin (10-7) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Weldone Honey 22-1 (10-2) Raced wide, chased leader, led after 4th until after 4 out, weakened next, behind when blundered badly and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Russian War (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug, 7 ran.
Harry Oscar (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) (cp)(ts) ap; led bet last 2; hdd last; no ex flat, 2nd of 20, 3/4l behind Harwood Dale (12-0) at Brocklesby Park 3m ptp in Feb '08.
Winbury 8-1 (12-0) Cl up til wknd app 14; pu nxt, in a race won by The Humbel Monk (12-0) at Whitwick Manor 3m ptp in Feb '09, 18 ran.
Lady Karinga 16-1 (10-8) In touch on outside, headway halfway, chased leaders until ridden 4f out and soon weakened, 7th of 13, 37l behind Bottman (11-1) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
