chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, challenged 3 out, led and slipped slightly on final bend, ridden and headed flat, stayed on, held close home
always in rear, well beaten from 3 out, mistake last
chased leader, led 3 out, headed final bend, 3rd and held flat, stayed on
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, pushed along after 10th, outpaced 3 out, went 4th after 2 out, no impression, kept on
chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led flat, edged right, driven out
led, hit 6th, mistake 10th, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway on outside before 3 out, pushed along when half jumped path final bend, immediately eased and pulled up
Sole Pretender won his first two starts over fences and placed in a Grade 3 at Roscommon last month. Fourth in the Galway Plate in July, Ash Tree Meadow also made the frame in a Grade 3 at Tipperary earlier this month and Uhtred made a winning start over fences at Downpatrick and has since joined the Skelton yard. Jetoile was beaten less than a length by the odds-on AUCUNRISQUE at Uttoxeter and is 5lb better off. The winner was always travelling best, however, and his jumping was also sound. Chris Gordon holds him in high regard and he can pass this tougher test with flying colours. Byzantine Empire and Noahthirtytwored are closely matched on Newton Abbot running but, like Ffos Las winner Straw Fan Jack, up against it in this company.
Ash Tree Meadow (FR) 6-4 (11-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent at 1st and 2nd, took closer order at 9th, ridden before last where bad mistake and pecked, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Authorized Art (11-5) at Tipperary 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
Byzantine Empire 13-8 (12-0) Led, ridden and hard pressed 2 out, every chance last when blundered, no extra flat and eased down final 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Noahthirtytwored (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gs in Sep.
Sole Pretender (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Led, 1 length ahead halfway, pushed along and headed before 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Enniskerry (11-1) at Roscommon 2m (1) gd in Sep.
Noahthirtytwored (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up, hard ridden to go 2nd from 4 out, challenging 2 out, disputed lead last, bounded clear flat, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gs in Sep beating Byzantine Empire (12-0) by 4l, 4 ran.
Straw Fan Jack 3-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, smooth progress to challenge and led 4 out, soon went clear, comfortably, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Black Poppy (10-13) by 7 1/2l, 5 ran.
Jetoile (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Handy, led 6th, headed 3 out and soon pushed along, hit 2 out, kept on but held run-in, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Aucunrisque (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Uhtred (IRE) 6-4 (11-12) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 6th, 2nd next and closer 3 out, challenged 2 out, pushed along and led early run-in, kept on well, won at Downpatrick 2m 3f gd in Aug beating Blackstair Rocco (11-12) by 8 1/2l, 6 ran.
Aucunrisque (FR) 4-6fav (11-2) Led, headed 6th, remained prominent, good jump and led 3 out, driven out run-in and always doing enough, won at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gs in Oct beating Jetoile (11-2) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
