held up in rear, headway 12th, ridden approaching 3 out, plugged on, no impression
tracked leaders and keen, weakened from 12th, soon tailed off
led, under pressure from 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on gamely flat, headed final 100 yards, just held towards finish
held up mid-division, mistake 8th, headway approaching 13th, chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from 2 out
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 11th, went 3rd before last, one pace
in touch, pushed along 9th, in rear when blundered and unseated rider 11th
held up towards rear, behind from 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 4 out, ridden next, challenged last, upsides flat when rider dropped whip, led final 100 yards, held on towards finish
with leader, every chance when blundered 2 out, soon weakened
VERY COOL has won after an absence and it's that fact that earns him a narrow vote over Son Histoire. The latter progressed well during last season, ending it with a convincing Chepstow success, but he's tended to need his first run back from a break and is therefore narrowly overlooked on this occasion in the hope that now is the time to catch Very Cool. David Pipe's gelding goes well for this rider and gets to race off a favourable mark judging by his hurdles form. He's won at the track and will cope whichever way the ground goes so makes plenty of appeal at the likely odds. Justabout has no fitness concerns whatsoever but looked to be in the handicapper's grip at Newton Abbot which couldn't be said about Triggernometry although jockey bookings suggest the Tizzards prefer the former, while Prophete De Guye is consistent and should reward backers with a solid run.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 21l behind Sunday City (10-13) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Jul.
Very Cool 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 8th, soon lost place, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Tarvini (10-4) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Jun.
Vamizi (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, 5th and under pressure when fell next, in a race won by Midnight Chase (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Son Histoire (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, clear between last 2, pushed out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Apr beating Montana Gold (9-13) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
On You Go (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, reminder after 9th, headway approaching 11th, mistake next, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 46l behind Moulin De La Croix (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Sep.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up in touch, left 3rd before 11th, went 2nd after 4 out, challenged and every chance when hit last, soon ridden, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Pairc Na Gcapall (11-5) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug.
Thumbprint (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Pulled hard in touch, not fluent 1st, lost place 7th, weakened approaching 10th, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Call Me Mulligan (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd in Jul, 8 ran.
Triggernometry 16-1 (11-12) Prominent, took keen hold, chased winner 6th until 9th, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cashel Blue (11-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Sep, 8 ran.
Ammunition (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Raced wide, chased leading pair, mistake 7th, struggling 10th, 6th of 7, 15l behind Noun De La Thinte (12-2) at Lingfield 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Justabout 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, chased winner 16th, soon ridden, no impression when mistake 3 out (water), one pace, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Rudinero (9-11) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
