chased winner, reminders approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, effort 4 out, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
made all, ridden after 3 out, under pressure last, driven out
in touch, chased winner approaching 3 out, every chance and not fluent last, one pace flat
chased leaders, weakened after 3rd, tailed off from 3 out
mid-division, pushed along 4th, steady headway from 3 out, no impression
in touch, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up, blundered 4th, soon weakened
always towards rear, pulled up before 2f out
held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased front pair approaching last, no impression
Manners can return with a bang ahead of Lunar Crystal, Classic Event and Linnet to name but a few. This is another open-looking affair, but with the Jonjo O'Neill stable in such good form of late, a chance is taken that Manners will be fit enough to do himself justice on this, his first outing since April. On that occasion he scraped home at Chepstow to gain the second of his two wins as a novice, and he now starts life as a handicapper on a fair mark, given the likely improvement to come. Lunar Crystal has to give weight away all round, but lines up on the back of a facile chase success over just two opponents at Newton Abbot in June. He should go well, but will do well to concede 8lb to the selection. Classic Event was driven out to score at Kelso 12 days ago and now takes a step up in grade, while Linnet returns to the fray after a break and has to tackle older opposition. Crathorne stayed on well up the Cheltenham hill when third to O'Toole last time, but would benefit from a longer journey, and for the winner we return to Manners.
Lunar Crystal (IRE) 4-6fav (11-1) Made all, reminders after 1st and 3rd, driven from 7th, ridden 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on, won at N Abbot 2m nov chs (4) sft in Jun beating Goldbrook (11-7) by 17l, 3 ran.
Silk Screen (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Never a factor, 16th of 24, 40l behind Wishwillow Lord (9-9) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl gs in Apr.
Fenix (GER) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, under pressure and weakened from 5th, 16th of 21, 29l behind Victram (9-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Mar.
Papini (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) Prominent, ridden after 2 out, weakened last, 7th of 21, 12l behind Acambo (10-4) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May.
Crathorne (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, 3rd of 12, 7l behind O'Toole (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Manners (IRE) 8-13fav (11-2) Always prominent, led approaching 3 out, edged left last, kept on well, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Sky Mack (11-2) by a nk, 16 ran.
Classic Event (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, rallied to lead after 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct beating Maneki Neko (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Linnet (GER) 6-1 (10-6) Close up, ridden to chase leaders from 2 out, stayed on under pressure run-in, took 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Pirate Flagship (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Jack's Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Jumped right, led 1st to after 3rd, remained prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 9l behind At Your Request (11-8) at Ludlow 2m hdl (E) gd in May '05.
Rojabaa 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 20l behind Caraman (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
My Legal Eagle (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 13, 9l behind Iffy (11-2) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Culcabock (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, led after 4 out, ridden and headed appoaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Iffy (11-2) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
