in touch, ridden 5th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, hit next, weakened and eased 2 out
held up, ridden 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up last
in rear, lost touch 5th, tailed off
made most, joined 6th, ridden 3 out, asserted approaching last, stayed on gamely
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace from next
held up, weakened 4 out, hit next, tailed off when pulled up last
in rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd last, nearest finish
tracked winner, joined winner 6th, ridden 3 out, every chance until approaching last, kept on one pace
Nonrunner
Brunston and Factotum would both have claims on their best form in this but it's a while since they've shown that. Hit The Switch has started favourite in his last two starts and should make the frame again but Drummers Drumming has had plenty of chances and isn't getting any closer. He was also engaged at Stratford yesterday while RUTTAN LAKE was due to run over fences at Hereford. Tim Vaughan may have found the latter another good opportunity here, however, as he's rated 14lb lower over hurdles than fences and is clearly at the top of his game at present. Sacco D'Oro was second over 3m here earlier in the month but hasn't reproduced that form over hurdles or on the Flat since.
Brunston 5-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place 4th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 11, 33l behind Changing The Guard (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Factotum 6-1 (11-10) Behind, pushed along from 3rd, never dangerous, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Quaddick Lake (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Ut Love (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and no extra 4 out, 15th of 20, 36l behind Blue Vic (10-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-102 gf in Jun.
Kenaleck (GER) 25-1 (11-7) Always behind, mistake last, tailed off, 9th of 13, 49l behind South Stack (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf.
Hit The Switch 11-8fav (11-1) Led, ridden after 2 out, headed between last 2, kept on under pressure and every chance last, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Luccombe Chine (11-3) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Ravi River (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, some headway when not fluent 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Jolly Roger (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Boomtown 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 6th, weakened before next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Windwood Lad (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd in Jul, 7 ran.
Sacco D'oro 8-1 (9-9) In rear, not fluent and struggling 7th, behind when hampered 3 out, 5th of 11, 32l behind Geminus (11-3) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Ruttan Lake (IRE) 4-11fav (10-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, led 6th, clear when mistake 3 out, pushed out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf beating Ballybanks (10-1) by 6l, 6 ran.
Nothingbutthetruth (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, in touch in mid-divsion, closed from 8th, close 3rd when stumbled and fell before 3 out, in a race won by Ocean du Moulin (10-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul, 13 ran.
Oh No Not Harry (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Sunny Spells (11-7) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Jul, 12 ran.
Drummers Drumming (USA) 2-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, soon pushed along, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Billy Blade (9-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jun.
