mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened after next
led until after 2nd, tracked leader, challenged 5th, soon led, not fluent and headed 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced and beaten
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd when jumped right and landed a little awkwardly 2 out, not fluent last, driven and no impression on winner flat
chased leaders, closed 5th, led next, ridden after 3 out, stayed on gamely
prominent, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway on outside 4 out, outpaced and no impression after next
prominent, led after 2nd, headed after 5th, soon weakened
held up in rear, closed 4 out, weakened next
CATCHIN TIME was knocking on the door at the start of the summer. An absence since June is a bit of a concern but Laura Hurley’s gelding won’t be far away here if running up to his best form. Magical Thomas wasn’t beaten far in his hat-trick bid at Fontwell last month but has gone up a further 2lb. Borak has won three times since May and is only slowly creeping up the weights but Mr Lando remains out of sorts and Cool Macavity is not the force of old. Mead Vale still has a bit of scope and looks the pick of the remainder.
Cool Macavity (IRE) 50-1 (9-4) Dwelt, in rear, struggling over 4f out, never dangerous, 12th of 13, 26 3/4l behind Unblinking (9-7) at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Magical Thomas 4-1 (10-9) Led, jumped right and bumped 1st, jumped right and hit 4th, ridden and hit last, soon headed, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Wind Place And Sho (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Borak (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Waited with in close 5th, smooth headway approaching 2 out, came between horses and produced to challenge last, driven to lead final 150 yards kept on gamely, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) fm in Oct beating Volpone Jelois (11-9) by nk, 5 ran.
Mead Vale 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, hampered 4th, every chance before 2 out, 5th and no extra approaching last, 5th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Farm The Rock (11-12) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Catchin Time (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led 4th, soon headed, led again 5th, driven and headed last, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Excellent Team (12-1) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Silver Quay (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Always behind, 11th of 18, dist behind Misty Bloom (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Mr Lando 20-1 (11-10) Led narrowly to before 2nd, in touch, driven after next, lost place before 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 14th of 15, dist behind Thomas Blossom (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Thundering Home 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders to before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 13th of 15, dist behind Thomas Blossom (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
