chased winner, reminder after 5th, hit 10th, soon relegated to rear, ridden and weakened after next
held up, headway after 11th, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
made all, clear last, stayed on well
raced keenly, held up in touch, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, headway 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
in touch, chased winner 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, blundered 11th, effort approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out
LACE YOUR BOOTS has seemingly rather harshly been raised 6lbs for an improved effort at Southwell last month but Jonjo O'Neill's gelding will not be inconvenienced by the cut in the ground and he looks worth chancing here, getting the vote ahead of Leading Article and Valiant Shadow. The last mentioned ran better at Worcester last month and Alison Thorpe's gelding has slipped to a decent mark so he has to be respected. Mixsterthetrixster is not as good as he once was but is still capable of fair form and he has to be considered on ground that will suit. Andrew Nick remains open to improvement after just nine starts and he is another worthy of a mention. Leading Article has been in the frame in his last three starts and can race off the same mark today so he should be thereabouts once more but may again have to settle for minor honours behind Lace Your Boots.
Valiant Shadow (GER) 11-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Levitski (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Aug.
Donovan (NZ) 25-1 (11-1) Always behind, 8th of 10, 49l behind Nelson's Spice (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Aug.
Andrew Nick (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) In touch, pushed along approaching 10th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Annie Fleetwood (11-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Aug, 10 ran.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 11-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 36l behind Alphabetical (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Lace Your Boots (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, led after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, hd behind Brave Jo (10-12) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Aug.
Chigorin 5-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, driven after 9th, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 26l behind Urban Tiger (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Aug.
Leading Article (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Towards rear, effort and headway 9th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, faded, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Different Class (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
