chased leaders on outside, lost place 4th, behind when not fluent 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, switched right before 8th, 2nd next, led after 4 out, clear after next, easily
jumped right, led until 2nd, tracked leader, ridden before 8th, not fluent next, soon beaten, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, 3rd before 3 out, not fluent next, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
with leader, led 2nd, headed after 4 out, no impression on winner from next, lost 2nd flat
chased leaders, ridden 9th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake next
The two improvers look the ones to concentrate on, and preference is just for THEO over Daulys Anthem . He only had to be pushed out to make a winning chase debut at Stratford and this track should suit. He can follow up at the expense of Daulys Anthem, doing absolutely nothing wrong at present but the handicapper has now had his say and he may need to improve again. That's far from impossible, of course, but Theo won't be any pushover. Lord Ben may be best of the rest.
Holeinthewall Bar (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Soon led, ridden and headed 3 out, dropped to 5th after next, no extra and kept on same pace from before last, 5th of 12, 35 1/2l behind Black Zambezi (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f hcp sft in Jun.
Theo (IRE) 10-11fav (11-10) Held up in mid-division on outside, headway 4 out, 2nd on last bend, shaken up to lead flat, ridden out, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Capsy De Mee (11-10) by 2l, 8 ran.
Daulys Anthem (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Always prominent, led when not fluent 7th, clear after 3 out, not fluent last, eased towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Mercian King (11-12) by 15l, 11 ran.
Mr Kit Cat 7-1 (11-9) Tracked winner until 2nd, lost place next, closed 7th, lost place before 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 6, 28l behind Adrrastos (11-10) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Lord Ben (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out (usual 6 out), ridden and lost place bypassing omitted 3 out, no chance with front trio final 2f, 4th of 5, 14l behind Little Pop (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Walden Prince (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) In rear, ridden after 8th, no impression, 6th of 9, 25 1/4l behind Abidjan (11-10) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Aug.