chased leaders, led after 12th, ridden and headed after next, rallied gamely, led and blundered last, driven out
held up, took closer order 7th, ridden after 11th, in touch when blundered and unseated rider 12th
never fluent, hit 2nd, lost touch 4th, pulled up before 7th
prominent until 10th, gradually lost touch, went moderate 3rd close home
tracked leaders, led 4th, hit 6th, mistake and headed 12th, weakening when blundered 3 out, virtually pulled up flat
led until 4th, stayed prominent, mistake 12th, weakened next
held up, headway 11th, led after 13th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra
Nonrunner
Balladeer has solid claims on the pick of his form but is hard to win with and he may be best left out of calculations with a safer bet looking to be Goldbrook, who gets the vote ahead of Leopold. The last mentioned disappointed at Newton Abbot last time but that was over 3m2f and he may do better dropping back in trip here. Lake Merced undoubtedly has ability but has failed to complete in his last five starts so is hard to recommend with any confidence, while The Newsman is probably best watched on his first start since being pulled up at Plumpton in May. The vote then goes to the Ron Hodges-trained Goldbrook, who has been running consistently well and looks to have been found a decent opportunity to resume winning ways here.
Balladeer (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up behind, outpaced after 11th, some late progress from 3 out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 12, 18l behind Barren Lands (9-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Goldbrook 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, 5th of 7, 33l behind Sento (11-7) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Aug.
Icy Prospect (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, hampered 4th, reminders next, soon tailed off and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Ede'iff (9-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
The Newsman (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Not fluent, in touch, not fluent and ridden 7th, well behind when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Master T (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in May, 8 ran.
Lake Merced (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Prominent, ridden after 14th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Cristophe (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Watch The Dove 9-1 (10-12) In touch and keen, ridden and weakened after 6th, 5th of 8, 35l behind Grand Slam Hero (11-2) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
River Bailiff (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden 13th, soon tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Yes Sir (11-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Aug.
Leopold (SLO) 16-1 (10-9) Held up last, ridden 16th, lost touch 4 out, 4th of 6, well behind He's The Biz (10-11) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
