led until 3rd, led after next, drew well clear before 3 out, eased towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place before 5th, weakened after 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders on inside, 3rd and no extra 3 out, 4th and well beaten after next
held up in rear, some slow jumps, struggling 6th, pulled up after
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before next
held up on outside, went 4th 4 out, plugged on in 3rd after 2 out, no chance with winner, just failed to get 2nd
with winner, led 3rd, headed after next, no impression before 3 out, blundered next, just held on to 2nd
Barry Geraghty rides Fayette County for retainer JP McManus but he'll do well to win a race like this following a lengthy absence. Neither Going Concern nor Fourth Act were beaten far last time. The former's second to good yardstick Pearl's Legend at Cheltenham looks the better form and he should be thereabouts in this but Saint Raph is proving hard to place and Rouge Et Blanc's recent revival came to a shuddering halt behind OTAGO TRAIL at Exeter. Venetia Williams' charge was all out win at the west country track but the second franked the form on his next start and this looks manageable off an 8lb higher mark.
Otago Trail (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, joined 3 out, headed next, chased leader, 1 length down last, rallied run-in, stayed on under pressure to regain lead towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Mon Successeur (11-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Quincy Des Pictons (FR) 40-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, struggling 12th, pulled up before next, at Perth 3m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Going Concern (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, challenged going well 2 out, ridden flat, stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Pearls Legend (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Fayette County (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Held up behind in touch, mistake 2nd, chased leaders when not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden and ran on flat, finished well towards finish, not reach leaders, 4th of 7, 3/4l behind Whispering Harry (10-9) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Rouge Et Blanc (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Held up, headway tracking leaders after 4th, not fluent 10th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, dist behind Otago Trail (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fourth Act (IRE) 10-3fav (10-11) Mid-division but in touch, mistake 6th, chased leaders 5 out, hampered next, not fluent 2 out, weakened before last, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Double Shuffle (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Saint Raph (FR) 3-1fav (11-5) Not fluent 3rd, headway tracking leaders approaching 7th, went 2nd 9th, hit 11th, ridden before 4 out, no chance with winner when pecked last, weakened run-in, 5th of 9, 13 3/4l behind Baby Shine (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
