tracked leaders, went 2nd from 5th, led before 2 out, headed before last, kept on
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 2 out, last before and mistake last, kept on well
behind, outpaced before 4 out, headway before last, kept on to take 3rd place close home
led, clear from 2nd, blundered 9th, soon reminders, headed before and blundered 2 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, weakened from 12th, tailed off 5 out
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, left 3rd after 2 out, kept on and lost 3rd place close home
towards rear, headway before 2 out, in 4th and weakened before last
tracked leader until 5th, weakened from 13th, tailed off
THE BACKUP PLAN has become frustrating to follow but won this last year off a 4lb higher mark so is given one final chance in the hope that first-time blinkers have the desired effect. Mount Vesuvius has travelled up from Hampshire and has been in good form over hurdles lately. However, he's not shown much over fences to date while course specialist Gin Cobbler has an absence to overcome. Ballycool is 3lb worse off than when beating the selection half-a-length at Bangor and also worse off with third Safari Journey. Swaledale Lad is on a long losing run and Arboretum has been getting no nearer.
Swaledale Lad (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led before 2nd, headed 5th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 10, 24 1/4l behind Fred Le Macon (11-8) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Safari Journey (USA) 5-1 (11-5) Prominent, led after 6th, hit 8th, ridden after last, headed on home bend, held by winner after, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Endeavor (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Ballycool (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) In rear, landed steeply, stumbled and unseated rider 3rd (water), at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
The Backup Plan (IRE) 8-11fav (10-7) Mistake 1st, led, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and headed, one pace next, no chance with front pair between last 2, 3rd of 4, 10 3/4l behind Degooch (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Gin Cobbler 15-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, led 8th, narrowly headed 2 out, led again last, driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) gf in May beating Odds On Dan (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Arboretum 6-1 (10-2) Held up in last pair, chased clear leaders after 3 out, ridden after next, never on terms, left modest 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Cooper's Friend (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Mount Vesuvius (IRE) 11-4fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, ridden between last 2, driven and stayed on into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Osgood (11-10) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) gf in Sep.
Hope For Glory 7-1 (10-4) Made most, mistake 8th, headed before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 4th of 5, 14l behind Anti Cool (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
