held up towards rear, weakened 4f out
held up, headway 4f out, weakened over 2f out
made all, clear over 3f out, hung right and tired inside final furlong, held on (no time taken)
tracked winner, weakened over 4f out
held up mid-division, chased winner 2f out, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, stayed on well towards finish
held up, tailed off over 6f out, soon pulled up
held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression
held up, behind final 5f
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened 4f out, tailed off
Forest Rhythm won well enough at Plumpton when last seen in May but it is never easy to win bumpers under a penalty and the Seamus Mullins-trained gelding may struggle to follow up here with EROS MOON taken to make a winning debut and getting the vote ahead of King Billy. Victor Dartnall's gelding lacks any experience but is bred to be useful and the son of Emperor Fountain has to be respected for a yard that does pretty well in bumpers. David Pipe's Horsford has run well in a couple of points in Ireland and now makes his rules debut for new connections so has to be considered, while Running Upthathill is probably best watched on his racing debut for Venetia Williams. Gary Moore's Commanche Dream is another newcomer worthy of a mention in race where there is little form to go on but preference is for Eros Moon. Paul Nicholls does reasonably well with his runners in this grade and the son of Winged Love is bred to be useful so may be good enough to win first time up.
Forest Rhythm (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up, steady headway over 3f out, led approaching final furlong, pushed clear, comfortably, won at Plumpton 2m 2f NH flat (6) gf in May beating Flexi Time (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Commanche Dream Commanche Run gelding out of Busy Girl.
Eros Moon (IRE) Winged Love gelding out of Kemal's Princess.
Horsford (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Ww, prog to 4th 4out, wen 2nd 2out, ev ch last & disp, ld run in, hdd late, 2nd of 18, nk behind Sum Laff (12-0) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp in Apr.
Howlin At The Moon (FR) 12-1 (10-9) In touch, headway on inside into 3rd 2f out, not pace of front pair soon after, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Lady Rhinestone (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gf in Jun.
Iona Days (IRE) Epistolaire gelding out of Miss Best.
King Billy Emperor Fountain gelding out of Ruby Star.
Kirkum (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) In rear, driven after 4f, well behind halfway, tailed off, 14th of 15, well behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in May.
Laneguy (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Ld til hdd 3out, wknd 2out, rallied late, 2nd of 10, hd behind Livinonedge (11-7) at Athenry 3m ire ptp in Mar.
Meet The Critics (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Twrds rr & ww, 9th 4out, smooth prog on inner bef 2out & ld aftr 2out, alw in command aftr & sow flat, won at Bartlemy 3m ire ptp gd in May beating Buen Camino (12-0) by 6l, 13 ran.
Running Upthathill (IRE) Marignan gelding out of Effelie.
Taffy Thomas 16-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, prominent, every chance over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 14l behind Cresswell Pride (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Turn of Speed (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Prominent, weakened 3f out, 13th of 18, 47l behind Eastern Paramour (10-12) at Newbury 1m 4f 3yo nhf (5) sft in Dec.
