tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, not fluent 6th, no impression on winner flat
held up, pushed along 6th, mistake and ridden 7th, soon behind, pulled up before next
made all, hit 3rd, stayed on very gamely, unchallenged
mid-division, hit 3rd, headway 8th, no impression from 2 out
held up, well beaten after 4 out, tailed off
chased winner until not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, not fluent 9th, soon beaten, tailed off
held up in rear, some headway after 9th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 8th, headway approaching 4 out, no extra before last
Pure Faith and Tatispout both have the ability to figure in this but are very difficult to predict nowadays. With all eight runners returning following lay-offs of one sort or another, we'll take a chance on MARODIMA who normally goes well fresh and could have a few of these in trouble if he's allowed an uncontested lead. He beat the hat-trick-seeking Mister Matt by 17 lengths at Newton Abbot in May and is 8lb better off now. Current Event still has a bit to prove in handicap company while Oldrik was tailed off when the selection was second at Hereford in the spring and King Edmond is still 5lb higher than when successful at Ascot last December, though usually tackles better company. It will be interesting to see if there's any money for the lightly-raced Gus Macrae, however, with McCoy in the plate.
King Edmund Evensfav (10-12) Led, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, headed approaching 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Victor Leudorum (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Pure Faith (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place quickly 9th, soon in rear, tailed off, pulled up, in a race won by Pacha Du Polder (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Marodima (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Made all, clear 4th (water) until 6th, came clear again 4 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in May beating Mister Matt (11-0) by 17l, 8 ran.
Current Event (FR) 11-10fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, weakened before last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Oceana Gold (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Oldrik (GER) 10-1 (11-10) In rear, jumped left 1st, weakened before 6th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind The Chazer (10-9) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in May.
Mister Matt (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Led until 2nd, pressed leader, led 7th, headed 4 out, led again before 3 out, just held on, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Aug beating Shooters Wood (9-7) by nk, 9 ran.
Tatispout (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 3rd 6th, blundered 11th, weakened next, behind and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Cootehill (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr, 8 ran.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Made all, drew clear from 3 out, very easily, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in May '11 beating Henry Hook (10-12) by 7l, 5 ran.
