raced wide, held up in close 5th, went left 3rd, headway to 4th before 5th, weakened 3 out, eased before next, tailed off, went left last
led until ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened rapidly, soon tailed off
chased leader, challenged 5th, led before next, joined 2 out, driven between last 2, soon in command
chased leading pair, slow 1st, went right 3rd, chased winner 3 out, every chance 2 out, driven between last 2, soon held
last pair, dropped to last and ridden along after 4th, tailed off
in rear, headway approaching 5th, went 3rd after 3 out until weakened before next
chased leading trio, mistake 1st, dropped to 5th before 5th, soon struggling, ralled to 3rd before 2 out, no impression when hit last
A competitive little heat with TAROUM taken to build on an easy success when hacking up at Stratford. He can defy a 7lb penalty now he has hit the bulls-eye and progress further. He was beaten previously in decent contests when racking up four successive seconds and his consistency is an added bonus. Bahr Nothing also totes a 7lb penalty after defying topweight against modest rivals and this looks tougher but he has clearly improved for the move to Tim Vaughan and is a leading contender. Point Blank cannot be discounted either after a cosy Uttoxeter success but has it to do under topweight, whilst the quirky Call To Arms and King Olav are others to note.
Point Blank (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Held up, took keen hold, headway when not fluent 4th, led 3 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, led again when jumped left last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul beating Dunshane (10-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
Taroum (IRE) 13-8fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4th, left in lead 4 out, clear from next, very easily, won at Stratford 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul beating Dazzling Rita (10-7) by 19l, 11 ran.
King Olav (UAE) 9-4 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, mistake last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Kayaan (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jul.
Erdeli (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Chased leader, went right and led 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 16, 34l behind All The Winds (10-12) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Call To Arms (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, stayed on final 100 yards, not able to trouble front pair, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Taaresh (10-12) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Bahr Nothing (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jul beating Torran Sound (11-11) by 3l, 12 ran.
Maadraa (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 14, 33l behind Banyan Tree (10-12) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul.
