fell 1st
chased leader after 1st, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until 6th, driven 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader until after 1st, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 2nd, soon in rear, behind from 6th, tailed off
tracked leaders, slightly hampered 2nd, went 2nd 6th, challenged last, soon led, driven out
held up in rear, driven after 9th, never dangerous
took keen hold, mistake 2nd, headway to chase leaders when not fluent 4th, lost place 6th, no impression after
not always fluent, held up, mistake 1st, headway approaching 6th, chasing leaders when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, went 3rd after last
held up, reminders after 4th, headway approaching 6th, driven 8th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, weakened flat
led, ridden after 2 out, hit last, soon headed and edged left, stayed on
prominent early, soon in mid-division, jumped slowly 5th, no chance from next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out.
Nonrunner
Masterpoint only just got home when successful at Stratford last time and a 9lb rise for that success looks harsh so the eight-year-old looks best watched and preference is for Chigorin, who gets the vote with Young Tot rated the pick of the remainder. The selection has been creeping up in the weights despite not winning but Geoff Harker's gelding does at least come into this in good form and he would not be winning out of turn. Charmahal has been well held in recent starts but Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has been given a chance by the handicapper so has to be respected. King Diamond is another that has slipped to a fair mark and has to be considered but more solid claims are held by Richard Ford's Young Tot, who has found one too good in each of his last five starts. He should again be thereabouts but marginal preference is for Chigorin, who is taken to gain a deserved success.
Almanshood (USA) 100-1 (11-1) Chased leaders to 5th, well behind 7th, blundered next, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Hypnotic Vibes (10-7) at Southwell 2m 1f beg chs (4) gd, 8 ran.
Young Tot (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Tracked winner and clear, ridden 4 out, outpaced next, soon no impression, 2nd of 4, 25l behind Seymour Weld (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd.
Masterpoint 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to lead approaching last, ridden out, won at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jul beating Festival King (10-6) by a nk, 11 ran.
Guerilla (AUS) 14-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden 4th, soon behind, last of 6, well behind Marodima (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Urban Tiger (GER) 14-1 (11-6) Held up, struggling from 6th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 36l behind Yellow Flag (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jul.
Chigorin 15-2 (10-13) Held up mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 9th, chased winner 2 out, edged left flat, no impression, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Kirby's Vic (11-2) at Southwell 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Good Old Days (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Led and raced keen, headed after 4 out, weakening when blundered next, 5th of 7, 40l behind Yellow Flag (11-2) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
King Diamond (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Towards rear, blundered 5 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, 37l behind Yellow Flag (11-2) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
Charmahal (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, blundered 6th, soon ridden, close 3rd when blundered 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 18l behind Calgary Jock (11-10) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Bill Owen 7-1 (10-8) Led, headed 10th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Pedros Brief (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Irish Stream (USA) 20-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, mistake 10th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Vital Spark (11-0) at Southwell 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Jul, 15 ran.
Runshan (IRE) 33-1 (9-9) Chased leader until 6th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Kirby's Vic (11-2) at Southwell 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
