held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out, led before next, headed last, 3rd and held towards finish
chased leaders, mistake 7th, hit 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway after 3 out, carried left after 2 out, soon switched right, hanging right flat, went 2nd and closing towards finish, soon carried left, impeded just before line
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, edged left after 2 out, led last, hung left towards finish, stayed on
towards rear, not always fluent, behind from 6th, tailed off
prominent, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
led until 1st, not fluent 2nd, led before 6th, headed next, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders until 3 out, soon weakened
led 1st until before 6th, led next, headed before 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, struggling 6th, well behind after 3 out, tailed off
An ultra-competitive handicap in which only Cooking Fat might struggle. Brave Spartacus is well treated on his chase form around here but is more exposed than most. Gone Forever was victorious on this card 12 months ago and Clondaw Banker arrives off the back of a win at Sandown, for which he is unpenalised. Ennistown has yet to finish out of the first two over timber, though this is another step up in grade. Kempton winner Work In Progress was only beaten a length at Aintree next time while Handiwork has been in terrific form in staying races on the Flat this autumn. Medicine Hat rallied well at Wetherby last month but another 2lb rise looks harsh. SKY KHAN and Raktiman are both previous course and distance winners and the former finished close up in a bunch finish at Cheltenham last month when given plenty to do. Provided they go a decent gallop. Lucinda Russell's runner is likely to be staying on best of all and could be the value.
Handiwork 5-1fav (9-7) Towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, driven and ran on towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Star Rider (8-11) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Work In Progress (IRE) 6-4fav (10-5) Led, driven 2 out, 1 length advantage last, soon hard pressed, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Hunters Hoof (10-8) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Ennistown 11-10fav (11-8) Held up, took keen hold, headway 4th, challenged going well 3 out, every chance when mistake and lost momentum last, ridden and looked awkward flat, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Charmix (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (3) sft in Oct.
Sky Khan 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish, 6th of 16, 3/4l behind Towering (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Raktiman (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Close up in rear, went 3rd 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Kingswell Theatre (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Medicine Hat 5-1fav (11-10) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed before next, every chance when mistake 3 out, one pace next, edged right and stayed on flat, 4th of 9, 2l behind Billy No Name (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Brave Spartacus (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 10th, driven and headed approaching last, one pace when lost 3rd flat, 4th of 10, 7l behind Sound Investment (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Gone Forever 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, chased leaders after 4 out, challenged next, every chance 2 out, soon no extra, lost modest 4th near finish, 5th of 8, 19l behind Optimistic Bias (11-6) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Clondaw Banker (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Led and disputed, chased new leader from 5th, led before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on strongly run-in, driven clear, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Slim Pickens (11-9) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cooking Fat 9-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 3rd 5th until before 3 out, no extra next, 6th of 7, 24l behind Hadfield (10-8) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
