held up in rear, under pressure halfway, soon behind
held up in touch, under pressure when weakening and jumped left 5 out, soon beaten
led, hard driven and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
behind, under pressure 8th, soon detached and never dangerous
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, soon one pace
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, driven to challenge 4 out, led approaching 2 out, soon pushed clear (no time taken)
behind, headway 5 out, chased leaders after next, kept on under pressure, never on terms
mid-division, weakening when mistake 7th, soon behind
Nonrunner
Dev has been running well in some good chases this season but now back to his optimum trip off a winning mark SOU'WESTER gets the call while Francis Du Mesnil is also weighted for a challenge. It is true that the pick's recent form figures haven't been great but those performances have been over longer trips and haven't really suited him. His last win came in similar race over distance at Aintree in May and this will be the first time he's returned to this stamina test off a workable rating since. Dev has been coming to hand slowly this season and ran a cracker in defeat in a better race last time. He's up another pound for that but should go really close again. Francis Du Mensil is difficult to judge on his UK debut but looks fairly enough treated on the pick of his Irish form and Norbourne Bandit looks good value for a place off his current mark. This looks a competitive handicap but things seem to be in place for Sou'wester to score.
Oneway (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Master Medic (11-6) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Sou'wester 16-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, staying on when left 3rd last, kept on, 4th of 11, 10l behind Frankie Figg (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Dev (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Led and clear with rival from 2nd, tired between last 2, ridden and headed before last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Tramantano (11-7) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Mango Catcher (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Led to 3 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 15, 14l behind Mutual Friend (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Bermuda Pointe (IRE) 6-4 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 4 out, quickly weakened and headed flat, last of 3, 14l behind The Duke's Speech (11-11) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sep.
Storm of Applause (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Tracked leaders, led 4th until approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 13l behind Oscar Bay (11-9) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Francis Du Mesnil (FR) 9-2 (10-0) Held up, closer in 5th entering straight, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Keelaghan (10-12) at Gowran Park 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 gf in Oct.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 4-1fav (9-13) Mid-division, raced keenly, mistake 2nd, ridden after 8th, never in contention, 7th of 13, 18l behind Fit To Drive (10-10) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Sep.
Huguenot (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Prominent, led after 5th, headed before 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 13, 13l behind Dani's Girl (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
