tracked leaders and keen, led 9th, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened and lost 3rd from last
held up, towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
led, mistake and headed 9th, weakened before 3 out
held up, towards rear, headway before 2 out, went 3rd from last, no impression on leading pair
in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and every chance run-in, kept on and held close home
held up, mid-division, headway before 4 out, led 3 out, hard pressed run-in, just held on
with leader, lost place after 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Paul Nicholls has already utilised Jack Sherwood's claim to good effect this autumn and, taking his claim into account, NEXIUS is only 2lb higher than when last successful over hurdles. He may have the class to defy top weight here, though Mont Choisy is a danger given he's only been beaten once here in four previous visits and his stable couldn't be in better form. Kelvingrove won over a similar trip at Market Rasen in May and Dolores Delightful was very consistent in the first half of the year, though reappears on a 5lb higher mark. Hold Court is a previous course and distance winner and Western Cape may have more to offer but So Fine has only won once in the last three years and prefers softer going.
Nexius (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Not that fluent in rear, well beaten after 3 out, 9th of 12, 25 1/2l behind Starchitect (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (2) gf in May.
Kelvingrove (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Behind, pushed along over 6f out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Slunovrat (9-10) at York 2m hcp stks (4) gs in Sep.
Hold Court (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, lost place before 9th, well beaten from 11th, 9th of 10, dist behind Gabrial The Great (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Mont Choisy (FR) 10-3fav (11-12) Led, mistakes 7th and 8th, headed after 3 out, beaten when blundered 2 out, soon weakened, mistake last, 7th of 8, 20l behind Bucking The Trend (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Dolores Delightful (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 4th, led before 3 out, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Alzammaar (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Western Cape (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Behind, some headway on inside before 2 out, soon struggling, tailed off, 13th of 18, dist behind Barney Dwan (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Herbert Park (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 8th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Letbeso (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, last of 9, 27 1/4l behind Kilfinichen Bay (11-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place and towards rear 3rd, behind and struggling when mistake 8th, soon pulled up, at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
So Fine (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, reminder and pushed along from after 8th, lost place 16th, behind from 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Shuil Royale (11-5) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.