mid-division in 4th, chased winner before 2 out until after last, one pace
held up mid-division, lost place and towards rear when fell 8th
tracked leader, mistake 5th, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, effort before 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, one pace and no impression
led, headed before 2 out, quickly weakened
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, went 3rd before last, chased winner soon after, one pace and no impression
tracked leaders and keen, led before 2 out, clear before last, easily
It's difficult to have much confidence in any of these but Peter Bowen's bumper winner Forever My Friend ran his best race so far over hurdles when second to Gunna Be A Devil at Exeter earlier this month, though that was over a much longer trip. Bernard Llewellyn has runners at the head and the foot of the handicap and ROCK PEAK gets the vote receiving weight all round. His form over timber so far has been very modest but has improved on the Flat this year, winning a maiden handicap over 2m2f at Chepstow in August, and jockey Brendan Powell is good value for his 3lb claim. Murfreesboro won at Cartmel in August and is a couple of pounds lower than when second to Argaum at Bangor subsequently so is probably the pick of the remainder.
Wine 'n Dine 14-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden after next, 6th and no chance when mistake 2 out, kept on to modest 4th flat, 4th of 12, 26l behind Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec '09.
The Society Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Behind, struggling 7th, tailed off and pulled up before last, in a race won by Not So Sure Dick (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Mid-division, pulled hard, headway after 5th, chased winner when mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, held when mistake last, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Gunna Be A Devil (11-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Cruise Control 9-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra approaching last, 6th of 11, 16l behind Bazart (10-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Peveril Pandora 14-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, one pace from 4 out, 7th of 17, 29l behind Kateal (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Moving Wings (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Jumped right, led, mistake 9th, went right and hit 4 out, headed and ridden soon after 3 out, weakened to poor 5th when pulled up before next, in a race won by Azulada Bay (11-5) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy, 6 ran.
Murfreesboro 15-8fav (10-0) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway on inside after 4 out, went clear 2nd after next, driven and kept on same pace from 2 out, no chance with winner when mistake last, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Argaum (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Sep.
Rock Peak (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 21l behind My Les (9-11) at Towcester 2m nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov '09.
