held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leading pair before 2 out, went 2nd after last, soon ridden and hung left, kept on and every chance towards finish, just held
held up behind, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
tracked leading trio, went 3rd after 11th, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on under pressure when hard pressed towards finish, just held on
tracked leader, led 4 out, joined 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra flat
held up in 5th, lost place 4 out, weakened after next, tailed off
led to 4 out, lost place after next, soon ridden and weakened
disputed 2nd to before 8th, chased leading pair, not fluent 11th, soon lost place, ridden 3 out, weakened before next
held up mid-division on outside, under pressure when jumped slowly 10th, pulled up before next
Jonjo O'Neill's Benefit Game has failed to complete in his last two starts, looking held before unseating his rider last time, and he looks best left out of calculations with a better chance held by One Of The Boys. Tim Vaughan's gelding deserves to get his head in front having found one too good in each of his last three starts and he should be thereabouts again but has yet to prove that he stays this far. Golden Gem has no problems with the trip but he has gone up 10lb for winning a Worcester claimer earlier in the month. Martin Keighley has his string in good heart so Ponchatrain has to be considered but a better bet looks to be MAGNETIC POLE, who gets the vote. Richard Lee's gelding was a good third over course and distance last month and can go two better racing off a 2lb lower mark today.
Cebonne (FR) 9-4fav (11-4) In rear, short lived effort 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, last of 7, well behind South Bronx (10-2) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Sep '08.
Golden Gem (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up behind, headway 4 out, tracked leading pair next, challenged last, soon edged right, ridden to lead flat, stayed on, won at Worcester 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd beating Heir To Be (10-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
Magnetic Pole 4-1fav (9-9) Chased leaders, bumped 2nd, hit 7th, blundered 8th, 2nd next, led 5 out until after 3 out, no impression 2 out, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Radetsky March (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jul.
One of The Boys (IRE) 6-4fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 7th, driven along in 5th after 4 out, effort after next, chased winner from 2 out, not fluent last, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Misamon (10-11) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
Benefit Game (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in last, ridden when not fluent 4 out, soon weakened, blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by De Luain Gorm (11-13) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun, 7 ran.
McQueen (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Pressed leader, led 2nd until after 9th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 6, 21l behind Mzuri Bay (11-4) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jul.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, tended to jumped right, challenged 4 out, hit next, led 2 out, hung badly right flat, bumped rival towards finish (placed 2nd), in a race won by Makena (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Jul, 12 ran.
Some Magic (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Mid-division, reminders 10th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, last of 10, well behind I'm Your Man (10-2) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
