in touch, ridden in 3rd after 3 out and no impression, stayed on well final 110 yards on run-in, closing at finish
not fluent 1st behind leaders, jumped right throughout, dropped to rear 10th, never a danger
in rear, headway into 2nd 12th, ridden after 2 out, switched right after last, ran on run-in, not reach leader
close up, not fluent 3rd, mistake 8th and reminder, pushed along and lost position after 12th, in rear and ridden before 4 out, no chance thereafter
towards rear, pushed along and headway into 3rd before 4 out, ridden and mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out
made all, jumped well, shaken up 3 out, ridden after last, stayed on dourly and held on towards finish
Oscar Montel's profile is rather in-and-out and Thunderstruck's last couple of runs have not built on earlier promise. Both will be in the mix if bringing their best form to the table but DAZZLING GLORY is preferred. The Skelton inmate stayed on steadily to land third spot behind the much-improved The Vollan at Southwell last time, which will hopefully have rebuilt some confidence after her fall on chasing debut. She's down to a feasible mark of 112 and can progress from that latest improved effort. D'jango is an obvious threat to all as he seeks a course and distance hat-trick in just over a month but has gone up 12lb for those two victories. Game Socks adds further spice to an interesting little heat, having shown much better form on his second chase start when a close second here earlier this month.
Oscar Montel (IRE) 15-2 (11-13) Chased leaders, pushed along and dropped to rear 13th, ridden and lost touch after last, 5th of 6, 25 3/4l behind Rapid Flight (12-4) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Thunderstruck (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Jumped right throughout, led, ridden and headed after 4 out, beaten when blundered last, stayed on flat, 4th of 8, 18 1/4l behind Dalkingstown (10-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Dazzling Glory (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Waited with towards rear, steady headway from 12th, chased leaders 4 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, plugged on pressing for 2nd but no chance with winner, 3rd of 10, 9l behind The Vollan (11-2) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
D'jango (FR) 10-3fav (10-9) Tracked leader, almost upsides when drew clear of remainder 8th, awkward 11th, led 4 out, clear when blundered 2 out, stayed on under pressure from last, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Doncesar De Pretot (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Present Chief (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Off the pace towards rear, pushed along and struggling in 6th after 4 out, went remote 4th before 2 out, 4th of 10, dist behind The Vollan (11-2) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Game Socks (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Led, headed 5th, close up 8th, upsides 9th, headed narrowly 10th, upsides 2 out, stayed on flat, headed close home, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Drumlee Watar (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f (3) gd in Jul.
