led, clear to 3rd, quickly lost 3rd and pulled up before 5th
held up in touch, headway to join leader 5th, led after 4 out, joined 2 out, hung left after last, kept on and headed near finish
in rear when unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders, led 4th, headed after 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
soon behind, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, hard ridden and hung right after last, led near finish
tracked leader, pushed along after 6th, weakened after 4 out
An interesting opener where we will side with Vale De Lobo to have too much for Federstar and Etoile Russe. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection has the best hurdles form on offer in this field, and that was when winning comfortably on his recent Chepstow debut. He comes out again fairly quickly, which is probably a sign of his wellbeing, and as he didn't have a hard race there he looks capable of following up on the way to better things. Federstar was a winner despite the track and going being against him at Stratford in July, and according to his trainer he will be better suited by more juice in the ground and the longer straights here. Strictly on form he has a bit to find but there does look to be more to come. Of the remainder Gitche Manito has been running on the flat and achieved some respectable form, but it's likely he will improve over the sticks with Alan King handling him, while Etoile Russe comes from a yard bang in form, though he'd have to improve a fair bit to be good enough to win, and we will take Vale De Lobo to do just that.
Etoile Russe (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Keen and not fluent, made virtually all, mistake 2nd, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Sept beating Backstreet Lad (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Federstar (GER) 15-8 (10-12) Jumped right, led, headed after 4th, led 3 out, headed next, all out to lead close home, won at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (C) gf in Jul beating Royal Master (10-12) by a hd, 9 ran.
Before Time 25-1 (9-0) Started slowly, always in rear, last of 14, 21l behind Cavallini (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun (Flat).
Gitche Manito (IRE) 33-1 (8-0) Mid-division, chased along over 3f out, soon beaten, 14th of 16, 34l behind Rawdon (9-4) at Haydock 1m 3f hcp (4) gs in Sept (Flat).
Jenkins Lane (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 10, 18l behind Aviation (11-5) at Perth 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gd in Sept.
Mr Maxim 20-1 (8-5) Chased winner early, outpaced 4f out, ridden and hung left and no impression from 2f out, 7th of 16, 11l behind Balwearie (9-2) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Sept (Flat).
Pace Shot (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 16th of 19, 17l behind Climate Change (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 1f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Aug (Flat).
Vale de Lobo 7-4fav (10-3) Held up, headway to chase leader after 4th, led approaching 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on well flat, won at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs beating Double Spectre (10-10) by 8l, 16 ran.
