never fluent, in touch, mistake 12th, dropped to rear next, jumped left after, tailed off 15th, pulled up after 17th
took keen hold, held up in last pair, steady headway 14th (water), went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace and no chance with leading duo
held up in last pair, reminder after 4th, dropped to rear 7th, tailed off and pulled up after 18th
chased leaders, pushed along and not travelling after 14th (water), weakened 4 out, poor 6th when pulled up 2 out
led until 4 out, lost 2nd before next, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily
chased leaders, blundered 3 out, no impression on leading duo when dropped to 4th 2 out
tracked leaders, 2nd before 3 out, hit 3 out and driven, no impression when not fluent next, one pace
Standing Ovation won this in 2013 but is 5lb higher than his latest victory at Newton Abbot in August where Raajih was tailed off. COWARDS CLOSE won a couple of chases last season and will have come on for his reappearance at Chepstow earlier this month. Paul Nicholls' charge may prove good enough as Dont Do Mondays is having his first start since March and has been raised 7lb for his latest success at Stratford. Forgotten Gold slid down the weights last season without showing any benefit and Best Boy Barney remains 10lb higher than his win at Kempton early in the year.
Raajih 33-1 (10-9) Led to 8th, tracked winner, lost place 11th, behind from next, tailed off 3 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Standing Ovation (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Aug.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, challenged 10th, lost place 5 out, weakened next, 8th of 13, dist behind Drop Out Joe (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
According To Trev (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 17th, outpaced 3 out, no chance with front trio before next, 4th of 8, 21 3/4l behind Lamb Or Cod (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Cowards Close (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Mid-division, hampered 3rd, headway after 13th, mistake 4 out, no impression from 3 out, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Drop Out Joe (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Best Boy Barney (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, jumped right 11th, headed after 18th, lost place from 4 out, 5th of 11, 16l behind Azure Fly (11-11) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) In touch, chased leading pair 4 out to before 2 out, soon outpaced, no chance before last, stayed on to take modest 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 14 1/4l behind Midnight Lira (10-12) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Dont Do Mondays (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Made all, driven clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Midnight Lira (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Led until 10th, not fluent 11th or 12th, weakened after 13th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
