in touch, headway to chase leader 3 out to next, soon outpaced, 3rd and no impression when not fluent last
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, driven to lead when hit next, soon edged left, clear last, pushed out easily
tracked leader, driven 3 out, soon lost place, no impression from next
mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up, effort 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened
held up, struggling 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure from last, no chance with winner
mid-division on outside, driven 3 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure from next, no impression
FAIROAK LAD is the pick of these with Manadam and Andrew Nick likely to make him pull out the stops. Philip Hobbs' charge is the winner of two races around Wincanton and though he has had a slight absence from the track, he gave the impression of being one to stay on the right side of when we saw him previously. Manadam was a winning chaser in France. He picked up a low grade hurdle at Wetherby under Rose Davidson and will be partnered in public by Peter Buchanan for the first time. Andrew Nick is a fair benchmark to work out the validity of the form. A winning chaser at Uttoxeter on soft going, he has raced with a degree of credit in Novice hurdles previously. Valerius has landed a couple of gambles at the track in the past but this assignment is against much more progressive types. Seeking Straight is exposed. Oshkosh produced a very promising second in a bumper to Den Of Iniquity on debut a couple of seasons ago but not a lot else since. The market will tell us plenty in this contest and Fairoak Lad is the call.
Fairoak Lad (IRE) 11-8jt-fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden behind leaders approaching 2 out, left 2nd 2 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gf in May beating Georgian King (11-5) by 5l, 6 ran.
Valerius (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (10-4) Close up on inside, headway 3 out, led next, drew clear from last, comfortably, won at Perth 3m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul beating Eight Fifty Six (10-1) by 12l, 9 ran.
Andrew Nick (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Made all, clear last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating Donovan (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Manadam (FR) 11-4 (10-10) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, led approaching last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 3f nov hdl gd in Apr beating Mr Aitch (10-8) by 5l, 12 ran.
Bronze Dancer (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 14, 47l behind Mhilu (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Dance Sauvage 10-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden over 3f out, soon mid-division, no impression, 7th of 13, 12l behind Dimashq (9-11) at Musselburgh 1m 5f amt hcp (6) gf in Jul (Flat).
McKinneys (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) In rear, mistake 2nd, well behind from 5th, 11th of 12, well behind Thats Confidential (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf.
Oshkosh (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Prominent until weakened quickly 4 out, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Matuhi (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Seeking Straight (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Led, headed 6th, weakened quickly and pulled up 4 out in race won by Guns And Butter (11-4) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
