held up, headway 2nd, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching last, mistake at hurdle and headed, edged left flat, stayed on one pace
held up, reminder after 3rd, not fluent and lost touch next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, weakened after 3 out
led, mistake 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace
prominent, not fluent 2nd, ridden after next, losing place when pulled up before 5th
held up, pecked 1st, not fluent 3rd or 5th, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, weakened approaching next
held up, headway when not fluent 5th, switched left and ridden before 2 out, bumped when mistake and led last, edged right flat, driven clear
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Changing The Guard was a useful sort on the Flat but is surely flattered by his wide-margin victory at Uttoxeter last week, for which he collected a 7lb penalty. He also wouldn't want the ground too soft so we'd rather stick with last month's C&D winner RED RIVERMAN, who was returning from a break that day and is probably capable of better. Highland Love ran well on the Flat recently and has the form to figure but Stravita's only two wins over hurdles have come in sellers and the others have a bit to find on recent form.
Changing The Guard 9-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, challenged going well when not fluent 3 out, soon led, ridden clear when hit last, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd beating Sky Calling (11-2) by 26l, 10 ran.
Highland Love 11-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, hit 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Solaras Exhibition (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Oliver's Gold 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 3 out, soon behind, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Call Back (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Favours Brave 8-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 3 out, one pace, 5th of 9, 19l behind Carlitos Spirit (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.
Stravita 5-4fav (11-2) Held up in 4th, went 2nd 3 out, upsides and every chance when blundered next, kept on same pace before last, no impression when ridden and hung badly right flat, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Sahrati (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jun.
Nicholas Pocock (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, slow 2nd, soon lost place, mistake 4th, ridden next, never dangerous, 6th of 7, well behind Drumlang (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Avanos (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Held up, not fluent, hit 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 3rd of 15, 14l behind Tinseltown (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in May.
Red Riverman 15-2 (11-11) Hampered 1st, mid-division, headway approaching 5th, led 2 out, went right and not fluent last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun beating Mwaleshi (11-3) by 3l, 11 ran.
Ivans Back (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Led, soon clear, headed after 3 out, in 3rd before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 19l behind Saints And Sinners (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Bingo des Mottes (FR) 6-1 (12-0) in a race won by Before The War (11-7) at Lower Machen 3m ptp gs in May, 11 ran.
Front Rank (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place 3rd, never back on terms, well beaten after 2 out, 8th of 11, 38l behind Letterpress (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
