tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and soon headed, weakened from last
led, not fluent 7th, headed next, soon regained lead, clear from 2 out
held up in rear, chased leaders approaching 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway 6th, weakend 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 6th, weakened 3 out
Bijou Dan, Dunaskin and Always Gold make the shortlist here with BIJOU DAN taken to complete a hat trick. Always Gold was a smooth Uttoxeter scorer in the summer, and has run some decent races on the Flat since. He was well supported on his return to hurdles but found one too good. He may go off a short price and is opposed. Dunaskin needs every yard of this trip over jumps having gone downhill on the Flat this summer. It was his gameness rather than his quality which saw him home last time at Cartmel, and it may have been a weak affair. Bijou Dan was a dual scorer on the Flat this summer and is very consistent. He has taken his last two contests in good style and is in good form. Bijou Dan looks sure to run another solid race and can score again.
Bijou Dan 5-1 (11-7) Held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Longdale (10-6) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Always Bold (IRE) 1-3fav (11-9) In touch, challenged 8th, ridden approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Victory Parade (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Dunaskin (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, 1 length down when blundered last, ridden and rallied flat, led again post, won at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Aug beating Major Payne (11-0) by ns, 10 ran.
Le Vert Galant (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Held up, some headway 3 out, never near leaders, 8th of 13, 30l behind Mr Woods (11-5) at Perth 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Restless Harry 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, jumped big and slow 2nd, headway after 7th, mistake 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Bulwark (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Sir Punjabi Nicolotte gelding out of Punjabi Rose.
Viking Blond (FR) 17-2 (10-4) Soon prominent, outpaced 5f out, rallied over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 7l behind Extreme Conviction (11-2) at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) gf in Mar.
