prominent, led briefly 3rd, with leader until led 7th, ridden 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra
towards rear, headway 11th, ridden and chased leader approaching 3 out, 2nd and held when hit last, no extra
towards rear, mistake 10th, weakened next
led, not fluent and headed briefly 3rd, in command until headed 7th, ridden approaching 10th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway and chased leader 4 out, led approaching 2 out, pushed clear from last, comfortably
held up, headway approaching 4 out, chasing leaders when saddle slipped approaching 3 out, not recover
chased leader, lost place 3rd, ridden 4 out, weakened next
Nonrunner
A moderate handicap chase can be taken by ROOKERY LAD, while City Affair can emerge as the big danger. The latter races from a mark 1lb higher than his best win, but he loves this sort of going and is effective at this trip. However, he has just been a bit off the boil of late having been on the go for a long time and we will oppose with Rookery Lad. The 10-year-old goes well on both heavy and fast ground and gets the latter today. This trip is ideal, he is on a handy mark and is in decent form so he is the one for us. If this were on bottomless ground then Najca De Thaix would be a leading player. All his wins have come with plenty of cut underfoot but if it stays quick here it will be a surprise if he even takes his chance. Pan The Man is one with conditions and trip to suit and he is now back on a very handy mark, so he is not discounted, and the same can be said of Roussea, but we can pick only one and that one is Rookery Lad.
Pan The Man (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Chased leader, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 8th of 13, 45l behind Snoopy Loopy (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Aug.
City Affair 7-2fav (11-8) Held up, headway after 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 11, 6l behind Levitski (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Aug.
Nesnaas (USA) 16-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 6th, led again 10th, headed 2 out, weakened, 4th of 14, 11l behind Different Class (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Rookery Lad 13-2 (10-11) Soon with leader, led 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed and hit last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Nelson's Spice (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Aug.
Roussea (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) In touch, ridden and close up 2 out, slightly outpaced, kept on to chase winner from last, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Different Class (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Good Old Days (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, mistake 2nd, headway when not fluent 4th, lost place 6th, no impression after, 5th of 11, 25l behind Urban Tiger (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Aug.
York Rite (AUS) 25-1 (9-9) In touch, weakened after 6th, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Herecomestanley (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Mortar 16-1 (10-0) Chased winner early, hit 3rd, lost place 5th, soon no impression, behind, 5th of 7, 16l behind Red Man Ray (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Made all, ridden approaching 4 out, jumped slowly last, hung left flat, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Aug beating Leading Article (10-5) by 2l, 4 ran.
