took keen hold, held up in last pair and wide, headway chasing leaders 8th, 2nd and every chance 2 out, hung left under pressure run-in, went 2nd final 75 yards
keen, tracked leader, led after 6th, joined 2 out, ridden after last, headed and weakened final 100 yards
chased leaders, jumped slowly 4 out, pushed along before next, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out until next, rallied under pressure run-in, stayed on to lead final 100 yards
held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, pushed along after 4 out, went modest 4th after next
held up last, closer on inside when hampered and rider lost iron 4 out, no chance after
led until after 6th, chased leader until before 3 out, pulled up before next
NonRunner
Sky Pirate has become a really consistent performer over timber and impressed when obliging over course and distance last month but is 8lb higher as a consequence. He's sure to run well again but this is definitely a tougher assignment off that higher mark. Beneagles is probably in the handicapper's grip and a recent 9lb rise will give us a clear idea of how improved an animal is Good Tradition after he strolled home the last day. Lord Topper bids to follow up Saturday's easy success but CHAMPAGNE EXPRESS can prove hard to beat here. He returned from an absence of over 700 days in a Kempton 'jumpers' bumper' before outpointing a useful field of handicappers at Cheltenham in April. He'll surely be fit and ready for the champion trainer after a break and remains on a workable mark.
Ennistown 20-1 (11-12) Always in rear, weakened 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Hallings Comet (10-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Sky Pirate 5-4fav (10-10) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, led again 4 out, soon pressed, hard ridden last, ran on well, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jun beating Theatrebar (11-4) by 5l, 6 ran.
Champagne Express 16-1 (10-2) Prominent, slightly outpaced and not much room before last bend, rallied before last, led final 150 yards, idled briefly, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Azzerti (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 22 ran.
Beneagles (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, hampered after 1st, went 2nd 4th, edged left before omitted 2 out, no impression on winner final 150 yards, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Marble Moon (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Good Tradition (IRE) 13-8fav (12-0) 2nd until after 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd again 2 out, soon led, clear before last, easily, won at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul beating Bright Tomorrow (11-12) by 27l, 6 ran.
Mr Mcguiness (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway 3 out, every chance 3 out, held in 3rd when blundered badly last, soon faded, 5th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Theatrebar (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Eureu Du Boulay (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Led, ridden before 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Notnow Seamus (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Lord Topper 2-1fav (11-6) Held up in touch, mistake 3rd, went 2nd approaching 9th, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Linguine (10-13) by 16l, 7 ran.
