prominent early, outpaced towards rear, headway before 4 out, hampered 2 out, soon weakened
in touch in 4th, went 2nd from 7th, challenged 4 out, pushed along to lead before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed after last, kept on towards finish
mid-division, headway before 5 out, challenged last, soon led, driven out
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened after 4 out
led, soon clear until 6 out, headed before 3 out, jumped left 2 out, no extra
tracked leader, weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 6 out, mistake 5 out, mistake 4 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish
behind, headway before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on from last
Nonrunner
Australia Day has had an unusual preparation, running twice on the Flat in Spain since taking in a competitive hurdle at Market Rasen in July. He has a terrific strike rate over fences but must lead and there are several front-runners in this. Fruity O'Rooney is a useful handicapper but this looks too sharp while Falcon Island struggles to get his head in front. King Edmond won at Wincanton in April while Mister Matt isn't without a chance and Temple Lord may be suited by the way the race is run, though McCoy has been allowed to get off the JP McManus-owned runner in favour of TINDARO. A course and distance winner, he was only beaten half-a-length in this grade at Stratford last time and should give supporters a run for their money again off a 3lb higher mark.
Fruity O'Rooney 4-5fav (11-12) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led 6th, pushed clear before 3 out, driven after 3 out, held on near finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Apr beating Requin (10-7) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
King Edmund 9-4fav (11-9) Prominent, led 4 out, hit next, strongly challenged 2 out, stayed on gamely, won at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Elenika (11-7) by 3l, 7 ran.
Tindaro (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on, always held by winner, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Dineur (10-6) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Jul.
Falcon Island 3-1fav (11-4) In touch, reminders after 4th, tailed off before 8 out, jumped badly left 4 out, last of 6, well behind Australia Day (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gf in May.
Mister Matt (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Led, disputed briefly halfway, headed and slow 5 out, ridden in 4th next, no extra in 5th entering straight, weakened and tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Prince Of Fire (9-10) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp chs gf in Jul.
Passato (GER) 22-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden and lost place after 9th, behind 11th, pulled up after, in a race won by The Disengager (11-6) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Jun, 10 ran.
Temple Lord (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Held up, headway after 8th, chased winner, driven approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Ulis De Vassy (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Aug.
Olympian Boy (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Held up in last, headway 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Catch Tammy (11-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Sep.
Australia Day (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Led, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 14, 20l behind Sea Lord (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Jul.
