held up in touch, led approaching 2 out, clear between last 2
tracked leader, blundered 9th, weakened from after 4 out
held up, headway 10th, disputed 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace from last
led to 3rd, weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, pushed along 7th, weakened from 9th
chased leaders, led from 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, chased winner from last, no impression
held up, headway 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
in rear, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, behind from 5th
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
prominent, lost place from 5th
towards rear, in touch approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Much the best race on the card and BENEFIT GAME can prevail, while Norborne Bandit is a danger. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained selection is well suited by conditions and trip and may still be ahead of the handicapper despite an 8lb rise for scoring at Fontwell last time. He jumps well, has a decent racing weight and is taken to land his first handicap out of novices' company. Norborne Bandit has been raised 4lbs for running on well to beat The Rocking Dock at Newton Abbot, but while he acts on top-of-the-ground he still has to prove he stays this far and so we will take him on. Silver Adonis has the stamina for this and Dr Robert Newland's grey has run some respectable races in defeat this summer, although top weight will make this tough again. Nesnaas is 5lbs better off with Silver Adonis compared to when beating him at Market Rasen in July, so there is every chance he will confirm that form, while course specialist and old boy Marked Man likes quicker ground and in spite of a stiff enough mark for him these days he will probably get heavily involved. Benefit Game can complete a four-timer.
Silver Adonis (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Glengarra (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (5) gf in Aug.
Nesnaas (USA) 6-1 (11-12) In rear, shaken up after 5th, pushed along 7th, no chance 9th, 6th of 7, 38l behind Safari Adventures (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, outpaced 3 out, rallied 2 out, soon switched right, led soon after last, ran on, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug beating The Rocking Dock (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, close up 7th, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Mango Catcher (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Litron (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Mid-division best, ridden and weakened entering straight, 15th of 19, 46l behind Ballyholland (10-13) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs gf in Jun.
Marked Man (IRE) 4-1fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, led after 4 out, blundered and headed 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 6l behind Dune Raider (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
Benefit Game (IRE) 11-10fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to lead after last, kept on under pressure, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug beating Koh Samui (11-3) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Rocsilver (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, headway in 8th when mistake 4 out, ridden in 7th and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 15, 23l behind Coola Boola (9-9) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp chs 0-102 in Aug.
Dere Lyn 40-1 (10-10) Always well behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lucky Luk (10-10) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
Pelo Du Bief (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and out paced 4 out, 3rd when hampered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Tigu (11-9) at Southwell 2m 5f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May, 9 ran.
Roussea (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Held up, behind from 10th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Glengarra (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (5) gf in Aug.
Phoenix Eye 9-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, ridden after 3 out, headway, not on terms 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 11l behind Joshua (10-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp 0-100 (4) gf in Aug.
