led, clear after 5th, driven and headed when mistake 3 out, weakened next
held up in touch towards rear on outside, not always fluent, struggling before 6th, soon behind, pulled up after 7th
held up in touch in rear, mistake 7th, 4th and ridden before 3 out, soon beaten
chased leaders on inside, led 3 out, clear next, long at last, stayed on well, driven out
held up in touch towards rear, not always fluent, mistake 5th, weakened after 7th, pulled up before last
chased leader, close up 3 out, soon outpaced by winner, kept on
Samba Dancer was second in a Worcester handicap on his first run for Fergal O’Brien and will be fancied to go one better even though more exposed than some. Father John has had wind surgery since a modest hurdling debut in May but fitness is unlikely to be an issue. GUERNESEY made mistakes when well beaten at Newbury in March but had been edging closer to a first success before that and he can shrug off an absence. Winning pointer Wild Breeze has had just one run in a bumper before going hurdling and is respected.
Dionysis (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, struggling 3 out, last of 10, 36 1/4l behind Strong Team (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Father John (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, some headway 8th, no impression, well beaten 3 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Presenting Jeremy (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in May.
Guernesey (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and hampered turning for home, mistake 3 out, headway before mistake 2 out, weakened, 7th of 13, 27 3/4l behind Our Dot's Baby (10-10) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Samba Dancer (FR) 10-3 (12-1) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, closer in mid-division after 4 out, chased leaders before next, went 2nd run-in, plugged on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 5 1/2l behind Translink (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Wild Breeze (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 5l behind Operation Manna (11-0) at Worcester 2m (5) gd in Aug.
Zulu Dawn (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Towards rear, headway into midfield 6th, chased clear leaders 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, dist behind First Street (10-10) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f (4) gd in Aug.
Grenadier Guard (IRE) 250-1 (11-4) Not fluent, always behind, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Percy's Word (11-4) at Stratford 2m 3f mdn (4) gd in Aug.
Paschals Dream (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) (xnb, tt) held up; 51/2l 9th 1/2way; 11l last 12; wl bhnd 14 til kpt on wl 3 out; 12l 5th when mist & ur last, at Didmarton 3m mdn gs in Mar.
