took keen hold in mid-division, headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong
keen hold tracking leaders, left with every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
soon tracked leader, ridden and 3 lengths down when left in narrow, led inside final furlong, driven out
steadied in touch, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
never better than mid-division
always behind
took keen hold in mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, held up in rear, brief effort into mid-division on wide outside 4f out, soon ridden and beaten
raced freely, set steady pace, headed 3f out, stayed chasing leader until weakened approaching final furlong
headway to track leaders halfway, led 3f out, 3 lengths clear when broke leg and pulled up inside final furlong
always in rear
held up in mid-division, headway on outside 2f out, soon ridden, hung right and weakened over 1f out
pulled hard in rear, well behind and no chance when brought down inside final furlong
held up in rear, stayed on final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
Nonrunner
Altay can keep up Richard Fahey's good run, with Fossgate, Forthright, Valance, Undeterred and Hawridge King all making for an open finale. In keeping with the rest of the card, there is plenty to get stuck into here, and the pin comes down on Altay who returned from a 21-month absence to score at Beverley last month. The nine-year-old, winner of the 2003 Swinton Hurdle, has been ready to run for over six weeks now according to his in-form trainer who is gearing him up for a novice chase campaign. First things first though, and he is taken to make hay on the level again. Fossgate has shown a liking for middle-distances lately and is still not too badly handicapped, while Forthright was given a great ride by Francis Norton at Ripon and is another that is well treated on form of old. Valance lowered the colours of the odds-on Warsaw Pact at Wolverhampton but is dropped down in distance here, and Undeterred won a leg of this series under today's pilot at Windsor so has may have place claims. Hawridge King is still a maiden but continues to reach the frame consistently, so it would be no surprise if he did so here, and in a tricky getting-out stakes, only a small vote goes to Altay.
Wise Owl 6-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 6l behind Valance (9-12) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Aug.
Forthright 12-1 (9-4) Held up behind leaders, smooth progress over 1f out, quickened to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Ripon 1m 4f hcap (3) gd in Jul beating Nero's Return (9-6) by 1l, 12 ran.
Altay 50-1 (8-13) Held up behind leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on gamely final furlong, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug beating Along The Nile (9-6) by 1l, 11 ran.
Fossgate 5-1 (9-10) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Aug beating Royal Melbourne (8-9) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Wellington Hall (GER) 20-1 (8-10) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 12, 8l behind Our Teddy (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Undeterred 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, steady headway to track leader 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out, won at Windsor 1m 4f amt hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug beating Bay Hawk (11-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Bay Hawk 4-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, strong challenge and up side 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 4l behind Hatch A Plan (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Hawridge King 6-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed close home, 2nd of 9, hd behind Fear To Tread (9-3) at Warwick 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug.
Gallego 11-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, ridden 3f out, good late headway from over 1f out, not reach leaders, 8th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Country Escape (9-6) at Warwick 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Border Edge 11-1 (9-1) Tracked leader until 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 6l behind Good Article (9-2) at Folkestone 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Brief Statement (IRE) 5-1 (8-6) Held up, headway over 5f out, tracked leaders over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 16l behind To Tiger (8-8) at Ayr 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Scottish River (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Slowly away, headway halfway, wide into straight and soon behind, 12th of 13, 31l behind Swords (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Dovedale 6-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, ridden in rear 4f out, never a factor, 6th of 10, 8l behind Fisby (8-8) at Newbury 1m 3f app hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Love You Always (USA) 10-1 (10-7) Behind, headway 3f out, soon ridden, chased winner 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Todlea (11-4) at Goodwood 1m 1f amt hcp (5) gf.
Serramanna 11-1 (10-7) Mid-division, saddled slipped and unseated rider in race won by Kanpai (10-7) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gf, 13 ran.
Most Definitely (IRE) 28-1 (9-4) Behind, headway over 4f out, not clear run over 2f out, ridden to lead briefly over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Numero Due (9-8) at Warwick 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Valance (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Tracked leader, ridden 4f out, hung left from over 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, stayed on to lead last strides, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Aug beating Warsaw Pact (9-5) by a nk, 6 ran.
Wait For The Will (USA) 25-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, moderate headway final furlong, 8th of 13, 14l behind Swords (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
