mid-division, mistake 7th, mistake next, soon outpaced, rallied 4 out, stayed on well under pressure flat to take 2nd, not troubled winner
held up towards rear, headway 7th, mistake last, stayed on under pressure flat
held up in rear, pulled hard, not fluent 1st, headway 7th, blundered 4 out, soon beaten, mistake last
chased leading pair, went 2nd 5th to 8th, close 3rd when mistake last, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, ridden after 6th, soon behind
jumped right, raced keenly, pressed leader until mistake 2nd, lost 2nd 5th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off
set good gallop, clear 4th, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept battling away, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, headway 7th, went 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven out
always in rear
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, eased
mid-division, raced keenly, mistake 2nd, ridden after 8th, never in contention
in rear, headway on outside 7th, weakened after next, tailed off
behind, mistake 4th, pulled up before next
Beherayn has claims if at his best despite a 10lb rise whilst it would be no surprise to see Kirby's Vic go well but the suggestion is SAFARI JOURNEY. There are no concerns with regard to form or fitness for the selection who gained the first chase success of his career when readily accounting for Enlightenment in August. This could represent him with a better opportunity than the novice chase he contested at Ffos Las as that was a warm heat. Fitness is rarely an issue for horses from the Twiston-Davies yard and they usually hit form at this time of year so Kirby's Vic merits respect whilst Beherayn is more than capable of playing a leading role if at his best but he's not been the easiest to catch right. Fit To Drive represents an in-form yard and has been a consistent performer and could have a say if fully tuned up but we'll side with the proven race fitness of Safari Journey.
Enlightenment (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 15th of 17, 45l behind Valain (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Aug.
Safari Journey (USA) 10-1 (11-6) Held in rear, mistake 2nd, hit 8th, outpaced approaching 2 out when not fluent, no impression after, 5th of 8, 5l behind Archie Boy (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m noc chs (3) gd in Aug.
Beherayn 9-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, pulled hard, mistake 5th, headway to lead approaching 8th, not fluent 3 out, pressed 2 out, in command approaching last, stayed on well, eased towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jul beating Russian Invader (10-4) by 7l, 6 ran.
Bureaucrat 16-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Rajeh (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd, 9 ran.
Histoire De Moeurs (FR) 25-1 (11-3) In touch, reminders after 5 out, soon outpaced, kept on approaching last, 6th of 8, 5l behind Archie Boy (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m noc chs (3) gd in Aug.
Laoch Dubh (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Led, raced keenly, headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last, last of 4, 21l behind Star of Germany (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Aug.
Dev (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Pressed leader until after 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 33l behind Passato (10-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Fit To Drive 6-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lead 4 out, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f beg chase (4) gd in Apr beating Talikos (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Phar Again (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Behind, never dangerous, 11th of 13, well behind Semi Detached (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
Kirby's Vic (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway 6th, tracked leaders after 4 out, ridden to lead last, kept on, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug '08 beating Waterspray (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Mis-division, raced keenly, headway 5th, hampered on inside on bend over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd post, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Meet The Parents (11-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Mibleu (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in rearm not fluent 7th, headway approaching 9th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Norborne Bandit (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led to 3rd, weakened 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Silver Adonis (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
