close up, headway to track leaders 7f out, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
slowly away in rear, ridden over 2f out, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, no reach leaders
tracked leader, brought field to stands side and led over 3f, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
slowly away in rear, weakened 3f out
raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, rallied inside final furlong
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression final furlong
raced wide, in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge winner inside final furlong, not quicken and carried left towards finish
led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
keen, close up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, hung left towards finish
Clayton has been in winning form on very testing going over hurdles so has to be respected. Sennockian Star won this in 2014 but was well beaten a year ago while Elbereth is 9lb higher than when successful here on good ground in June. Pacify's only victory last season was in a two-runner race while Interconnection has never won above Class 5 level. The progressive Dark Red can step-up on his victory at Chelmsford and get involved while What About Carlo beat two much better fancied rivals in a three way contest on heavy going here in August. SLOWFOOT, a regular winner on the Flat in Germany, had two runs over timber under A P McCoy at the beginning of last year and won them both. He has a lot of weight and hasn't run for a year but his trainer knows how to get one ready and he's handed a speculative vote.
Slowfoot (GER) 6-4jfav (11-6) Always prominent, led before 3 out, shaken up when left clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Apr beating Jack Frost (11-6) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
What About Carlo (FR) 7-1 (9-12) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 9th of 13, 19 1/4l behind Passover (8-7) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Clayton 5-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Draytonian (11-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Tioga Pass 12-1 (9-2) Awkwardly away and slow into stride, soon in touch, effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Jordan Princess (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gf in Jul.
Archangel Raphael (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Keen close up, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Top Tug (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Elbereth 10-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden and headway when short of room over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Talmada (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) gf in Sep.
Pacify 3-1fav (9-7) Held up, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd final strides, no threat to winner, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Classic Collection (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Sennockian Star 17-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden and lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 8l behind Chancery (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Firestorm (GER) 18-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 13, 18 1/2l behind Passover (8-7) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Interconnection 7-2fav (9-10) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, clear entering final furlong, ran on strongly, eased near finish, won at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (5) gs in Oct beating East Coast Lady (9-5) by 3 3/4l, 10 ran.
Dark Red (IRE) 6-4fav (8-11) Prominent, led over 1f out, driven out, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Mar beating Air Of Astana (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
