held up towards rear, detached after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway after 11th, chased winner last, challenging flat, held close home
mid-division, not fluent 10th, headway after next, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, close 3rd 4 out, jumped right 3 out, weakening when jumped right last
pressed leader, led and made most from 3rd until headed 2 out, weakened flat
led, not fluent 2nd, headed next, not fluent 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, hit rail on bend approaching 3rd, mistake 8th, behind 10th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 10th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, headway after 11th, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression on front pair
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, jumped right last, pressed flat, driven out
Lawney Hill's Mad Jack Duncan is bound to be popular with backers following recent wins at Uttoxeter and last month at Worcester and he has every chance of winning again but, with the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable in much better form now, BERMUDA POINTE can reverse running from Uttoxeter on 15lb better terms for 30 lengths and he is preferred. Michigan Assassin has harshly gone up 5lb for his second at Worcester last month and of more interest may be Kirkhammerton, who is in fine form at present having won each of his last two starts but he has gone up another 7lb for that latest win and may now be in the grip of the handicapper. Novikov may struggle now in handicaps, while Sunday City could probably do with some help from the handicapper.
Mr Robert (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 15th, hit next, 8 lenghts 5th when fell 4 out, in a race won by BallaBriggs (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Postmaster 50-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, disputing 8th 4 out, never on terms, 7th of 16, 13l behind Passato (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Aug.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) Held up in close 3rd after making mistake 2nd, mistake 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, driven and 2 lenghts down last, stayed on under pressure to lead last stride, won at Bangor 3m nov chs (4) gd in Aug beating The Shoe (11-7) by hd, 3 ran.
Sunday City (JPN) 9-4 (11-11) Chased clear pair until blundered 4th, in rear from 6th, headway to go 3rd from 10th, chased winner approaching 4 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Fealing Real (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Led, ridden after 5 out, headed approaching next, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 49l behind Bale O'shea (10-6) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Michigan Assassin (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, led after 2nd, jumped right and bumped next, headed 4th, led after 6th, headed when blundered and rider lost iron briefly 2 out, led again last, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Good Company (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug.
Kirkhammerton (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 8th, went 3rd 3 out, went 2nd after next, stayed on gamely flat to lead towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating Indiana Gold (10-4) by 1l, 7 ran.
Bermuda Pointe (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, challenged 5th, led after 7th, ridden with ears pricked from approaching 2 out, always holding fast finishing runner up, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating Diaco (11-1) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Tell Me The Story (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up, not fluent 2nd, always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mad Jack Duncan (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jul, 10 ran.
Mad Jack Duncan (IRE) 5-2fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating Tritonville Lodge (11-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Novikov 15-2 (11-3) Held up, went 3rd after 6th, chased leader 9th, challenged 3 out, led next, jumped left last, ridden out, won at Southwell 2m nov chs (4) gd in Aug beating Pure Faith (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
