prominent, ridden after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on to go 2nd run in
led, headed approaching last, no extra
held up towards rear, hit 8th, outpaced from 4 out
tracked leader, ridden 3out, soon weakened
in touch, headway 4out, led approaching last, pushed out
always behind
Exulto is beginning to run out of chances and it remains to be seen if first-time blinkers will galvanise him sufficiently to open his account over fences, especially as the handicapper has put him back up in the weights after a couple of seconds at Newton Abbot. Schumpters Lad and Bathwick Quest are proving equally frustrating while The Magic Bishop returns from a break. Haka Dancer ran his best race so far over the larger obstacles at Sedgefield last month but FARLEIGH HOUSE is still preferred. Third in a better contest over C&D last month, he was just beaten over hurdles off this mark at Huntingdon last Monday and is almost guaranteed to run his race here.
Exulto (IRE) 9-2fav (10-6) Towards rear, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, kept on from last, went 3rd last 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Mibleu (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Aug.
Schumpters Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Led until outjumped 4 out, stayed on same pace after, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Piment D'estruval (11-4) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
The Magic Bishop 9-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden before last, no impression, 5th of 10, 28l behind Stopped Out (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Bathwick Quest (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Led, jumped left 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, beaten when jumped left last, being closed down for 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Numen (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Farleigh House (USA) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, hit 2 out, every chance flat, unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Rampant Ronnie (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Haka Dancer (USA) 4-1 (10-10) Held up in last trio, mistake 7th, outpaced in 6th 4 out, headway to 3rd before 2 out, one pace before last, left 2nd and slighty hampered last, kept on well closing stages, just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Tahiti Pearl (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
