led, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, driven and kept on one pace
tracked leaders, mistake 7th, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, pulled up next
keen tracked leader until 8th, close up, weakened 11th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, effort next, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on same pace
in rear, ridden 3 out, no chance when blundered last
close up, reminders 4th, dropped to rear 6th, pulled up before 9th
close up, tracked leader 8th, led after 3 out, ridden and stayed on flat
in rear, headway 10th, chased winner when hit 2 out, ridden and no impression flat
Nonrunner
Michael Chapman has done well with Epee Celeste but she has a stopping weight here. LA PANTERA ROSA is still fairly handicapped and has the beating of Quinder Spring on the form book. He may be capable of completing his hat-trick. It would be no surprise to see Chesapeake return to form sooner rather than later while Dystonia's Revenge, Ifandbutwhy and Apache Blue could also figure but Call At Midnight is probably best watched returning from a break and veteran Itzacliche doesn't look the force of old. Baily Storm should be approaching peak fitness now, however, and may be the danger to the selection.
Epee Celeste (FR) 5-4fav (10-11) Made all, 10 lengths clear last, driven and stayed on well flat, unchallenged, won at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Aug beating Mostly Bob (11-12) by 23l, 4 ran.
Dystonia's Revenge (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in touch in 4th, chased winner from 5 out, no impression, 2nd of 5, 18l behind Acrai Rua (10-8) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
Call At Midnight 6-1 (11-2) Tended to jump left, tracked leader, led approaching 4th, headed 6th, led again next, stumbled slightly 18th, not fluent last, headed narrowly flat, soon led again, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 3m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Nov beating Spring Moon (11-6) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ifandbutwhy (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, every chance before 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Rob Conti (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Aug.
Apache Blue (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Mid-division, outpaced 5 out, plugged on and no impression, 5th of 8, 33l behind Lamboro Lad (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jul.
Chesapeake (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Towards rear, soon ridden along, behind 10th, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind The Disengager (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Aug.
Itzacliche (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, mistake 8th, struggling before 11th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Sea Saffron (11-6) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp ch 0-125 (3) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Baily Storm (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 5th, not fluent 4 out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Zhukov (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Aug.
Quinder Spring (FR) 5-2fav (10-4) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, headway to lead after 8th, made rest, drew well clear after last, easily, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Aug beating Oh Right (9-11) by 15l, 7 ran.
La Pantera Rosa (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led from 9th, kepton from 3 out, soon pressed, held on well towards finish, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Aug beating Roi De Garde (10-9) by 1l, 14 ran.
