in touch, lost place 7th, rallied approaching 8, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last
behind, headway 8, ridden and every chance last, one pace flat
mid-division, ridden after 8, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, led approaching 6, ridden 3 out, headed last, weakened flat
prominent, pushed along approaching 8, soon weakened
in touch, led last, ridden out
led, hit 5th, headed approaching 6, weakened next tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway 7th, ridden after next, weakened approaching 2 out
Incas absolutely bolted up last time and is taken to defy a penalty, with Pams Oak, Flight Command, Xellance and Mill Bank all expected to make their presence felt. Having plied his trade round Perth since coming over from Ireland to join Lucinda Russell, Incas found his form with a vengeance at Cartmel nine days ago, galloping his rivals into the ground with a dominant showing. The softer conditions no doubt played to his strengths, and he now has a 7lb penalty to overcome, so we should not get too carried away just yet, but he is taken to follow up. Pams Oak lines up in form as well, but the feeling is that he may have had a hard race when just getting the better of Cross The Highman at Market Rasen 11 days ago and is worth taking on. Flight Command has always threatened to deliver more than he has since going chasing, but a little break may have revitalised him, while Xellance went out like a light at Market Rasen last time and is perhaps best watched. Mill Bank was a beaten favourite at Worcester and the 11-year-old will find this trip on the short side, so we have to go for Incas who can prove that his runaway Cartmel success was not just a flash in the pan.
Quazar (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Tevere (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Jun, 13 ran.
Flight Command 9-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 3 out, soon headed and ridden, weakened flat, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Jodante (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Xellance (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Led or disputed lead to 9th, soon lost place, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Tommy Spar (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Aug.
Pams Oak 9-4jt-fav (11-10) Tracked leader, led 9th, blundered next, driven out flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating Cross The Highman (11-10) by a nk, 5 ran.
Saafend Rocket (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Held up, headway on inside approaching 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 8l behind Barren Lands (11-12) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Incas (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 10th, clear when blundered 2 out, mistake last, easily, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Aug beating Renvyle (11-5) by 10l, 6 ran.
Mill Bank (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Led, hit and headed 14th, soon ridden, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 4l behind Barren Lands (11-12) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Flahive's First 7-1 (9-9) Led, headed approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 6th of 10, 42l behind Gabor (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Aug.
