in touch, mistake 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 3 out, soon ridden, close up 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, pushed along after 7th, soon struggling, behind from 9th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leader, mistake 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, pulled up after 3 out
led, clear when hampered by loose horse approaching 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway approaching 9th, ridden after 3 out, close up 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up mid-division, headway 9th, mistake next, weakening when pulled up before last
in rear when not fluent and unseated rider 1st
in touch, lost place 8th, rallied 2 out, no impression on leaders
held up in rear, headway approaching 9th, led 2 out, ridden out
mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on same pace
held up in touch, ridden 10th, weakening when blundered badly and unseated rider 2 out
prominent, ridden after 8th, soon lost place, behind from next, tailed off
in rear, reminders after 6th, lost touch from 9th, mistake next, tailed off
Nonrunner
It will have to be taken on trust that Jonjo O'Neill's recent Hereford winner Charge It will stay this longer trip but he is far from certain to do so and a safer bet may be LYSTER, who gets the verdict ahead of Present. The selection represents trainer David Evans and comes into this on the back of a decent effort when chasing home Jam Packed on soft ground at Stratford last time but he is equally effective on fast ground and is a proven stayer. Midnight Gold has shown improved form over fences of late but disappointed on his return to hurdles at Bangor last time so he looks best watched now, while Tim Vaughan's Canndar is less exposed than most of these but does need to improve on all known form to trouble the judge. Truly Fruitful faces no easy task under his big weight for what he has actually achieved and of more interest may be Present, who has shown improved form of late. Plenty of these have chances in a moderate contest but Lyster has arguably the best and he gets the verdict.
Truly Fruitful (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, headway after 3 out, one pace when mistake 2 out, 4th of 13, 7l behind Lord Ryeford (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Lyster (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up well in rear, jumped right 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, headway after 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Jam Packed (11-9) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
What Luck (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, never in contention, 5th of 11, 25l behind Distiller (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Sonoma (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leader to 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Captain Becket (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Charge It (IRE) 4-1co-fav (11-7) Led 1st, headed 2nd, led again 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd beating Covey (11-10) by 6l, 17 ran.
Midnight Gold 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 8l behind Willywont He (11-7) at Bangor 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Aug '07.
Watch Out 11-2 (10-0) Mid-division, headway and chased leader after 8th, every chance when hit 2 out, not quicken flat, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Marigolds Way (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Grave Doubts 40-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on to chase clear winner last, 2nd of 12, 12l behind Barneys Mate (11-4) at Worcester 3m amt hcp hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Present 10-1 (10-3) Held up behind, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner last, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Another Storm (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Aug.
Whatdoidowiththat 9-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, led approaching 9th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 15, 18l behind Lyster (11-10) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Jul.
Alfadora 20-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders until weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 38l behind Randwick Roar (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Canndar (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-5) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, outpaced after 8th, plugged on from 2 out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Marigolds Way (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
King Rocky 100-1 (10-7) In touch, jumped slowly 2nd, driven after 8th, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind William Butler (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs.
Presenting Alf (IRE) 6-1co-fav (11-1) In touch, ridden 12th, weakened after next, 7th of 12, 31l behind Kingfisher Niamh (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Jun.
April Attraction (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Held up, headway after 8th, ridden when hit 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 8, 21l behind Winter Star (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Rabbit 16-1 (10-13) Towards rear, weakened 3 out, 9th of 17, well behind Charge It (11-7) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
