towards rear, not fluent 7th or 8th, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, soon headed, held from last, kept on
handy, pushed along 8th, not much room 3 out, led before 2 out, soon headed, 4th and no extra last
chased leaders, not always fluent, looked awkward flat, kept on
bumped 1st, held up in touch on inside, lost place after 3 out, well beaten 2 out
led briefly 1st, prominent, jumped right 5th, led before 7th, headed before 2 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
made most until before 7th, not fluent next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up rear of mid-division on outside, effort 3 out, every chance before 2 out, soon held, 5th and no extra last
held up in last, headway home bend, led 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, ridden out
Sammylou has been in fine form around here over the summer but may struggle to win this from 5lb out of the handicap. De Rasher Counter is a smart staying chaser and won the Ladbrokes Trophy last year off a 7lb higher mark but he needed a run over hurdles last season to put him straight. BOYHOOD may be more forward and he has won around over fences so gets the nod ahead of Sunset Showdown, Label Des Obeaux and the race-fit Prabeni.
De Rasher Counter 8-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, mistake and reminder 16th, behind from 17th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Boyhood (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, dropped towards rear after 4th, struggling 3 out, weakened before next, soon pulled up, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Sunset Showdown (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) In touch in mid-division, effort and tracking leaders going well home bend, shaken up before last, soon weakened, 11th of 24, 23 1/2l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 20-1 (11-8) In rear, pushed along after 7th, headway before 8th, pecked 2 out, weakened, 4th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Potters Hedger (10-8) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Oscarsman (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Raced wide in mid-division, weakened and behind 6th, pulled up before next, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Prabeni 85-40 (11-7) 2nd or 3rd until 6th, pushed along before 8th, well beaten 4 out, stayed on passed beaten horses from 2 out, went remote 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 37 3/4l behind Yes No Maybe So (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Laugharne 4-1 (11-6) Led, not fluent 3rd, headed before 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 4, 30 1/4l behind Present Chief (11-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Sammylou (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Held up last and keen, good headway on outside before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, led between last 2, strongly pressed last, driven and kept on gamely, all out, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Watching Brief (10-0) by nk, 8 ran.
