mid-division, headway after 5th, led approaching 2 out, clear last, easily
always well behind
prominent, led after 2nd, ridden after 4 out, headed soon after next, weakened
held up in rear, hampered and fell 1st
awkward and baulked 1st, soon behind, well tailed off 5th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent and pushed along 4th, close up 3 out, jumped left and weakened next
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 5th
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, lost place 3 out, no extra from next
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, switched left and 2nd before next, no impression on winner last, kept on
led until after 2nd, prominent, weakened 3 out
badly hampered 1st, well behind, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd next, no extra before last
NonRunner
UTILITY has landed three of eight starts under Rules and should still have room for further development after scoring in good style over course and distance last time. He does have plenty of weight but looks progressive and is preferred to Jodies Jem, who continues to run his race without getting his head in front. Purple 'n Gold is hard to catch right, course and distance winner Courtlands Prince may need the run and both Cillian's Well and Billy My Boy have decent place claims. However, Ashoka may emerge as the main danger for the Skelton team, although it's hard to understand why he's been kept on an unchanged mark for two defeats, having been put up 18lb for two previous successes which read well in the context of this race.
Utility (GER) 5-1 (11-12) Went right start, always prominent, 2nd well before 3 out, led 2 out, kept on strongly run-in, won at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Hallings Comet (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Ashoka (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place when not fluent 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, 17l behind Mad Jack Mytton (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Led until 2nd, chased leader until mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 29l behind Festive Affair (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Jodies Jem 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, 2nd before last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Mister Universum (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Courtlands Prince 2-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, pushed along after 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Angus Glens (11-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Calva D'honore (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Jumped left, led cleat after 4th until before next, headed 2 out, 3rd and no extra before last, 3rd of 10, 13 1/2l behind Petrou (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Billy My Boy 5-2fav (11-6) Led, headed 5 out, led again 4 out, ridden and headed last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Bistouri D'honore (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Cillian's Well (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader until after 3rd, stayed handy, 2nd again from 4 out, led after 3 out, not fluent last, ridden out to hold on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jul beating Tamarillo Grove (11-2) by nk, 9 ran.
Solstalla 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders before 3 out, 3rd 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 7 1/2l behind Utility (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Duke Of Sonning 40-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, recovered to lead after 1f, headed over 2f out, one pace in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Shining Romeo (9-13) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp (6) sft in Jul.
King Alfonso 2-1fav (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, weakened and not fluent 3 out, 6th of 9, 28 3/4l behind Relentless Dreamer (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Baratineur (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 19 3/4l behind I See You Well (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gf in May.
