chased leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, weakened 3 out
led to 3rd, remained close up, struggling from 3 out
held up, reminders after 4th, stumbled and unseated rider on bend before 6th
prominent until 3 out
tracked leaders, hit 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon outpaced
struggling from halfway
mid-division, ridden 3 out, stayed on from next, chased winner from last, no impression
prominent, stumbled and unseated rider 4th
towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on from next
behind, reminders and struggling from halfway, pulled up before 6th
mid-division, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off from next
held up, effort 3 out, no impression next
mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
not fluent throughtout, always behind
with leader, led 3rd, clear from 2 out
held up, weakened from 6th, tailed off
Goblet of Fire, Xellance and Rajam are three against the field in this competitive opener and the tentative vote is given to Rajam. The selection won well last time out when beating Bill's Echo last time out and with the first time visor likely to bring about more improvement he will be hard to beat. Xellance rates the main danger as he also won well last time out when beating Mister Arjay but this looks more competitive and his penalty may find him out. Goblet Of Fire is another worthy of respect as she has conditions to suit and will have the race run to suit but she has yet to win off a mark this high. Of the remainder Football Crazy and Silver Charmer are on handy marks and could go well at a price but for the winner we return to Rajam who remains at the right end of the weights.
Mr Cool 33-1 (10-4) In touch, headway approaching 7th, led approaching 4 out, ridden clear 2 out, stayed on, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in May beating Mr Ed (11-3) by 6l, 13 ran.
Spectrometer 20-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 5th to 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Kingkohler (10-1) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs.
Football Crazy (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-6) Led until mistake and headed 5th, weakened 6th, 10th of 16, 15l behind Goblet of Fire (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Aug.
Forager 33-1 (11-3) Tracked leader until 4th, 3rd when blundered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Turpin Green (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Goblet of Fire (USA) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders travelling well, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon ridden, driven out, won at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Aug beating Englishtown (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Xellance (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd and mistake 7th, ridden and every chance when mistake 2 out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gf beating Mister Arjay (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Alikat (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 6th of 16, 7l behind Goblet of Fire (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Aug.
Grave Doubts 25-1 (11-1) Held up last, always towards rear, no impression, 13th of 16, 41l behind Goblet of Fire (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Aug.
McBain (USA) 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, 5th of 16, 4l behind Goblet of Fire (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Aug.
Silver Charmer 5-1 (11-6) Held up and pulled hard, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance from last, ran on, 2nd of 10, shd behind Kristoffersen (10-8) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Jun.
Samsaam (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Chased leader to 5th, soon ridden, beaten when hampered 2 out, 5th of 8, 41l behind De Blanc (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
Rajam 9-4fav (11-4) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden approaching next, led last, kept on well, won at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf in Aug beating Bill's Echo (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Overstrand (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, led next, kept on well, won at Perth 2m clm hdl (F) gf in Aug beating Cadeaux Rouge (10-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Wet Lips (AUS) 7-4 (10-11) Led until mistake and headed 7th, tracked leaders, ridden to lead again between last 2, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (D) gf in Jun beating Dad's Elect (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Turkama (FR) 50-1 (10-2) Held up racing keenly, joined leader 4th, led 5th, ridden 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 16, 16l behind Goblet of Fire (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Aug.
Rooftop Protest (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Led, mistake 5th, strongly pressed and slight advantage last, soon headed, rallied to regain lead last strides, won at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-116 gs in Aug beating Orchard Grove (10-2) by a shd, 16 ran.
Donovan (NZ) 10-3 (10-13) Chased leaders, hit 5th, soon hard ridden, weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Dominican Monk (11-11) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Jul.
