mistakes and behind, hampered 3rd, effort 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, soon tailed off
raced keenly in touch, led after 4th, headed after last, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat
held up and behind, weakened 2 out, soon tailed off
held up in touch, headway 4 out, upsides last, ridden and every chance flat, no extra final 100 yards
led, headed after 4th, tracked leader, upsides last, soon led, ridden and stayed on well final 100 yards
tracked leader, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and beaten
4th when fell 3rd
mid-division, driven and effort 4 out, ridden and weakened last
held up and behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders last, ridden and no impression flat
Windy Spirit can end an exasperating sequence of seconds, with Count Fosco, Mocharamor and Page Point worth a mention. The ex-Irish Windy Spirit seems to have now got the hang of things over fences, having finished runner-up on each of his last three outings for Evan Williams. The Welsh handler now appears to have found a decent opportunity for the gelding to get his head in front, with his experience expected to stand him in good stead in this company. Count Fosco has been rested since scoring twice over hurdles in the winter, but chasing was always going to be the plan and it will not be long before he pays his way. If fit enough here, he could bustle up the selection along with Mocharamor who carried a big weight to victory over hurdles at Sedgefield on his last visit across the Irish Sea. Page Point has his first run since May when he was allowed to come home in his own time behind Mioche d'Estruval at Uttoxeter. Some future chase winners will emerge from this, but Windy Spirit is the one for now.
Count Fosco 10-3 (10-0) Held up in rear, effort approaching 3 out, hung left and weakened approaching next, 6th of 8, 37l behind Omni Cosmo Touch (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Mar.
Darina's Boy 33-1 (11-5) Always in rear, lost touch and tailed off 4 out, last of 6, well behind Rostropovich (11-5) at Sandown 3m hdl (B) gf in Apr '03.
Devondale (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Led and disputed, clear lead 4 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Just In Debt (11-0) at Kilbeggan 3m nov hdl gd in Jun '03.
Heather Lad 11-2 (11-0) Prominent, disputed lead from 9th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 9, 31l behind Whispered Secret (11-0) at Southwell 2m 5f beg chs (E) gd.
Mocharamor (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and hit next, blundered last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf beating Little Task (9-11) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Page Point (AUS) 10-3 (11-3) Held up, headway 9th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened before next, 4th of 9, 15l behind Mioche d'Estruval (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (E) gf in May.
Peter's Imp (IRE) 9-2fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 3rd out, led going well approaching last, clear after last, eased near finish, won at Cartmel 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Jul beating End of An Error (10-11) by 2l, 16 ran.
Windy Spirit (IRE) 6-4 (10-12) Held up last, ridden and headway to chase winner 3 out, stayed on well from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Getoutwhenyoucan (10-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f beg chs (D) gf.
