tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out until after 2 out, weakening in 5th when left 3rd last
held up in 4th, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 5th (water), closed after 8th, mistake 3 out, weakening in 4th when left 2nd last, no chance with winner
always in rear, lost touch 4 out, left 4th last
tracked leader, led 4th, headed and just demoted to 3rd when blundered, bumped and fell last
held up in rear, took keen hold, good headway approaching 2 out, led when left well clear last
held up in 5th, closed after 8th, ridden 3 out, switched right and just moved into 2nd when fell last
led until 4th, ridden after 7th, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
CORTINAS can defy top weight in this company and is taken to hold the aces over Inmate, who is respected but, as his best efforts have come on the back of a long lay-off; the gap of just 37 days since his last run is an obvious concern. The Charlie Mann-trained selection, comfortably held Blast The Past at Southwell when they last met and, from just a 3lb higher mark, there are solid foundations for supporting Mann's charge again today. Bushwacker is better than his form figures would have you believe - they read like a number plate due to his poor rate of completions this season. He does like a good test of stamina, though, which makes it debatable as to whether this extended minimum trip will suit him ideally. Nawow is an old yardstick that can pick up the pieces if the main contenders have an off-day.
Cortinas (GER) 5-1 (10-7) Held up in rear in well strung out field, headway approaching 2 out, ran on flat, nearest finsih, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Liberty Seeker (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sell (4) gd in Aug.
Bushwacker (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Pressed leader, led 9th, ridden between last 2, headed narrowly when fell last, in a race won by Indiana Gold (10-1) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug, 6 ran.
Venir Rouge 11-1 (11-1) Jumped right early, tracked leading pair, effort to chase winner after 11th, no impression when jumped right 4 out, lost place next, soon weakened, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 42l behind The Jigsaw Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Aug.
Inmate (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Led to 4th, remained close up, led again 9th, clear from 2 out, very easily, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul beating Glengarra (11-7) by 22l, 7 ran.
Blast The Past 17-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 6th, 4th and ridden when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by January (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug, 12 ran.
Nawow 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway to go 4th 3 out, 5 lenghts down in 3rd 2 out, stayed on well flat, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind January (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Papradon 2-1fav (11-6) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, soon led, headed 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 12, 28l behind Louis Ludwig (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Aug.
