held up in rear, not fluent 6th or 4 out, headway 3 out, ran on flat, nearest finish
tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed towards finish
held up in touch, mistake and lost place 6th, struggling 4 out
led until 4th, not fluent 6th, pulled up after 7th
mid-division, lost place after 4th, last when not fluent next, behind 7th, tailed off
prominent, lost place 6th, behind from next, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4th, mistake 7th, hit next, every chance when blundered 3 out, weakened last
fell 1st
held up, not fluent 3rd, headway after 7th, went 2nd 2 out, led towards finish, driven out
held up in touch, ridden in 6th after 4 out, beaten when hung right after 2 out, hung left flat
tracked leaders, hit 9th, ridden and lost place approaching 4 out, hit 2 out
held up in rear, hit 3rd, headway after 7th, ridden after 4 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, hit 9th, stayed on same pace flat
in rear, mistake 5th, struggling 7th, tailed off
This is a terrific contest for the time of year and several arrive in peak form. Intac is on the upgrade and has won his last two starts at Hereford with the minimum of fuss, while Zorro De La Vega won on his reappearance at Market Rasen. King Edmund and Grand Lahou should both be happier back over fences but this looks a big ask for Rio Gael at the weights and Exulto continues to frustrate his supporters. Stablemate Safari Journey may have too much weight, along with Trooper Clarence, while Rippling Ring, fifth in the 2008 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, is probably best watched after a long absence though is certainly well handicapped. OCEANA GOLD still has plenty of scope over fences and has been far from disgraced in his two runs in handicaps. He continues to creep up the weights but can reverse Newton Abbot running with Exulto and take this nice prize.
Safari Journey (USA) 28-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, pecked 6th, headway 9th, blundered 12th, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 14, 32l behind Stewarts House (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Aug.
King Edmund 4-1 (10-7) With leader, jumped right 4th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, left remote 2nd 2 out until last, 3rd of 11, 20l behind Royale's Charter (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Trooper Clarence 11-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, went 2nd 3rd, led after 8th, headed 4 out, 3 lenghts 2nd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Bushwacker (9-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Jul, 10 ran.
Oceana Gold 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, chased winner before 3 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Mibleu (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Aug.
Intac (IRE) Evensfav (11-12) Made all, joined 3 out and 2 out, went clear before last, nudged out, easily, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating Potemkin (11-7) by 10l, 5 ran.
Gee Dee Nen 12-1 (11-4) Jumped well, made virtually all, joined 4 out ridden to assert after 2 out, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Apr beating Aerial (11-3) by 6l, 4 ran.
Grand Lahou (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Led, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Lakeman (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Aug.
Rippling Ring (SAF) 7-2 (11-7) Led, headed 4 out, ridden 3 out, relegated to 4th when left 3rd 2 out, soon outpaced by front pair, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Snap Tie (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gf in Oct '09.
Rio Gael (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Reluctant to line up, tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, hit 4 out and no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind West With The Wind (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs (2) gf in Aug.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Prominent, not fluent 4 out, soon driven, weakening when mistake 3 out, 7th of 14, 28l behind Stewarts House (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Aug.
Exulto (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on to go 2nd run in, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Farleigh House (11-4) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Zorro De La Vega (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Held up in 5th, bad mistake 5th, headway 8th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, mistake and left clear last, all out, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating Tilly Ann (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Callisto Moon 6-4fav (11-10) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed 2 out, in 3rd and held when brought down last, in a race won by Altan Khan (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Take A Mile (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened before 9th, tailed off, 10th of 13, 22l behind Winning Show (10-2) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
