led, headed 6th, soon 3rd, slight mistake 6 out, improved into 2nd before straight, ridden and disputed before 2 out, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace
chased leader in 2nd, 3rd before straight, improved on inner to dispute before 2 out, ridden in narrow lead before last where mistake, disputed run-in, headed last strides
held up in rear early, 3rd from 4th, keen hold to lead 6th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon no extra
held up in 3rd early, rear from 4th, improved to challenge before 2 out, ridden before last where close 2nd and mistake, disputed run-in and edged ahead last strides
A small but very select line-up that should have bearings for the coming winter months. Guitar Pete arrives with a penalty and is now the winner of two Grade 1s, the latest of them at Aintree when he had today's rival Clarcam just under 2l behind off levels. The latter didn't do as well on his next start at Fairyhouse when only fourth in a Grade 3 but is better than that and there looks very little between the pair again. The winner then went to the Punchestown Festival for the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle but ran poorly in sixth, 11l behind the winner Abbyssial and over 4l behind PLINTH, who ran a superb race to finish runner-up. The latter arrives here race-fit having conceded 4lb to The Plan Man and beaten him 2l at Cork in August before failing to hold off the very useful Flaxen Flare at Galway. He didn't run as well behind Rebel Fitz in an all-aged Grade 2 at Tipperary last week but back amongst his own age group and probably fitter than his main rivals he's taken to land this for Aidan O'Brien.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, detached and ridden 3 out, soon no impression, kept on without threatening straight, 6th of 13, 11l behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in May.
Plinth (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, no impression from 2 out, 4th of 5, 12l behind Rebel Fitz (11-4) at Tipperary 2m hdl G2 (1) gd.
The Plan Man (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Chased leaders in 3rd, improved to challenge 2 out, ridden to narrow lead before last, kept on well under pressure run-in, asserted closing stages, won at Listowel 2m hdl gd in Sep beating Shamar (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Clarcam (FR) 5-2fav (11-0) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 4th 2 out and no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Ivan Grozny (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) in Apr.
