soon tracking leaders, jumped left 1st, lost place after 2nd, behind 5th
held up in rear, took keen hold, steady headway before 4th, ridden to challenge flat, led towards finish
chased leaders, 2nd after 2nd, led flat, headed towards finish
led, driven and headed flat, no extra close home
held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, modest 5th before next, no impression
held up, headway after 2nd, close 3rd 3 out, shaken up when blundered 2 out, beaten flat, one pace
mid-division, no impression after 5th
took keen hold, tracked leader until after 2nd, stayed handy, ridden and weakening when blundered 3 out
NICE THOUGHTS, a winning miler on the Flat, showed definite signs of promise over hurdles in the spring, most noticeably when only beaten a length-and-a-quarter by subsequent winner Eddiemaurice at Ffos Las in the spring. The pair finished clear of the remainder and David Pipe's four-year-old should go one better today if fully wound-up. Barwick, rated 90 on the Flat, is jumping hurdles late in life but ran well for a long way at Newton Abbot and should find a small race. Kalaskadesemilley may be improving and Walk Waterford is one for the future if not this evening.
Balmoral Prince 40-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, struggling next, tailed off 4 out, last of 4, dist behind Knight Bachelor (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Aug.
Barwick 7-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders when mistake 3 out, 3rd soon after and ridden, no chance with leading duo, weakened and lost two places towards finish, 5th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Taper Tantrum (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Aug.
Kalaskadesemilley 150-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, close up 3 out, soon outpaced by front pair, no chance from next, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Moonday Sun (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Aug.
Positive Touch (IRE) 12-1 (12-10) Cl up, 4th aftr a mile & 6th 6out, cl en 5th bef 4out, sn no ex & bhnd when pu aft 4out, at Inchydoney 3m mdn gd in May.
Walk Waterford 13-2 (11-4) In rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Meribel Millie (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 1f (6) gd in Nov.
Desert Sensation (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, soon beaten and behind, 5th of 7, 25 3/4l behind Moonday Sun (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Aug.
Nice Thoughts (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) Held up in last trio, headway after 4 out, chased leaders before next, 2nd soona fter 2 out, ridden and every chance last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Eddiemaurice (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gd in May.
Poetic License (IRE) 150-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden when weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Mr Kit Cat (11-5) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Jun.
Rachael's Ruby 66-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, at Towcester 2m hcp (5) gd in May.