chased leaders, weakened and mistake 6th, soon lost place, pulled up after 3 out
pulled hard and held up towards rear, headway after 1st, chased leaders 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up, mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden and chased leaders 3 out, led 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra
held up and mid-division, shaken up to chase leaders after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on one pace
led to 1st, prominent after, ridden and weakened before 3 out
prominent, led after 1st, ridden 3 out, wandered and headed approching 2 out, rallied and led approaching last, driven out
held up and mid-division, ridden approaching 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out
always behind, tailed off from after 6th
With so much rain around and the forecast of more to come the going here may change for the worse by the time this race is due off and with that in mind we will side with Darjeeling to take the opener, with Igloo D'Estruval not out of it, and Potts Of Magic obvious short list material. Darjeeling is one of the few proven on soft ground and that can stand the mare in good stead. She does, however, have to prove her stamina over this trip, having never been tried over this far. Nevertheless, she generally jumps well, she is consistent and she can score. Potts Of Magic seeks a hat-trick here but Richard Lee's gelding loves to hear his hooves rattle. He has shown some form on soft too, although with a hike in the weights for those successes he will find it much hard to get through this today and so is opposed. Igloo D'Estruval has won on a bog in his native France, although there would probably have to be some mishaps elsewhere for him to land this, while High Gear is another top of the ground lover whose chance will be hindered here. But Darjeeling is our cup of tea in this opener.
Igloo D'estruval (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Jumped slowly 1st, towards rear, headway 12th, ridden 15th, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 23l behind Lambrini Bianco (10-6) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Darjeeling (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Held up, ridden along after 8th, headway on inside after next, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Rushneeyriver (10-12) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
High Gear (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (11-1) Chased leaders, hit 2nd, joined leader from 4 out until ridden approaching 2 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 14, 19l behind Burren Moonshine (10-8) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Potts of Magic 9-2 (10-0) Held up, driven along and outpaced after 9th, ran on well under pressure to lead close home, won at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Jul beating Rushneeyriver (10-7) by a hd, 7 ran.
Chesnut Annie (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Terramarique (11-2) at Worcester 3m amt hcp hdl (5) gf, 16 ran.
Wayward Melody 22-1 (10-12) Mid-division, bumped 2nd, headway 6th, outpaced 9th, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Terramarique (11-2) at Worcester 3m amt hcp hdl (5) gf.
Cotswold Rose 14-1 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 9th, ridden 3 out, one pace when not fluent last, 3rd of 17, 9l behind Mags Two (10-1) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gf in Sept.
Amber Dawn 25-1 (10-4) Always in rear, 6th of 11, well behind Miss Muscat (10-2) at N Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
