led to 6th, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 4th
tracked leading pair, raced keenly, ridden after 2 out, went 2nd after last, stayed on under pressure to lead inside final furlong, driven out
held up in rear, pushed along approaching 6th, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up towards finish, dismounted
mid-division, headway when not fluent 5th, lost place under pressure next, weakened 2 out
not fluent 1st, soon in rear, pushed along before 4th, behind 5th, stayed on from over 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 5th, led approaching last, soon clear, headed inside final furlong, no extra
chased leader, led 6th, headed approaching last, soon weakened, tailed off
held up, headway 6th, weakened last
Thunder Rock has been struggling against the handicapper in recent starts over fences and Jonjo O'Neill's gelding could be of interest back over hurdles today but RAJEH is lightly raced over timber and gets the vote to follow up his recent success at Market Rasen with the main danger rated as Silver Adonis. Richard Newland's gelding stepped up on previous efforts this term when running out the ready winner of a handicap chase at Hereford earlier this month and he has to be respected off an 8lb lower mark back over hurdles. His form over timber is some way short of that over the larger obstacles though and he may be best watched. Sheena West's Tobago Bay could probably do with some help from the handicapper and may struggle to give weight away all round, while Rory Boy was well held when last seen at Cheltenham in April. David Arbuthnot's King Ar Aghaidh is less exposed than most of these after just eight career starts and, having been dropped 3lbs since running a decent second to Englishtown at Southwell in July on his most recent start, he looks well treated. Preference though is for John Spearing's Rajeh, who was good value for his win at Market Rasen last month and he is taken to defy a 4lb rise for that success.
Tobago Bay 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, 14th of 15, 47l behind Toshi (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Aug.
Bureaucrat 25-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, well beaten after 3 out, 9th of 17, 32l behind Raslan (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Aug.
Rajeh (IRE) 7-4 (10-11) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, left in lead 5th, not fluent next, ridden and headed 3f out, kept battling away, regained lead gamely inside final furlong, all out, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Aug beating Any Given Day (11-12) by nk, 7 ran.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) In rear, jumped slowly 1st, headway when jumped slowly 9th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Histoire De Moeurs (9-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Jul.
Rory Boy (USA) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 36l behind Tasheba (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
King Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Englishtown (11-9) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jul.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, chased winner approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, no impression when hung left before 2 out, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Nez Rouge (10-9) at Stratford 2m 3f clm hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Sky Calling 16-1 (11-7) Led, jumped right 6th and 7th, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Dirar (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
Silver Adonis (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, led approaching 2 out, clear between last 2, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Marked Man (10-13) by 10l, 12 ran.
