held up in touch, weakened 14th, soon struggling, tailed off
not fluent, tracked leader, mistake 12th and 15th, outpaced when blundered 3 out, stayed on between last 2, when 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner
led, hit 8th, headed 4 out, no chance with winner between last 2, lost moderate 2nd flat
no fluent, in touch, under pressure 13th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled 3 out
steadied in touch, headway to lead 4 out, drew well clear between last 2, easily
chased leaders, under pressure 13th, 4th and well beaten when fell last
in touch, went 3rd 6th, jumped right 11th, hit 14th, beaten when blundered badly 2 out, tailed off
behind, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled after 11th
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies won this decent novices' staying contest in 2004 with Ollie Magern and he can again provide the victor here with Patman Du Charmil, while Iced Tea and Blue Teen look the dangers. Patman Du Charmil is proven over this trip and on good to soft ground, and he has been one of the elading lights in his yard's recent run of form with two wide margin successes. Now full of confidence he can complete the hat-trick. It is hard to weight up exactly how good Iced Tea's defeat of The Entomologist was at Hexham last time as both were heavily eased after the last, but it looked plenty smart enough and with stamina guaranteed, the ground ok and McCoy booked he can go very well. Blue Teen also stays and handles cut and should strip fitter for a pipe opener at Market Rasen last month. His best form entitles him to be bang there and a win would be no shock. Joe Lively looks best of the rest but Patman Du Charmil looks a decent chaser in the making and can take this on the way to better things.
Blu Teen (FR) 4-6fav (11-8) Led, ridden and not fluent, pecked 2 out, headed last 75 yards, no extra, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Prestbury Knight (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (2) gd in Sept.
Ice Tea (IRE) 15-8 (11-4) Made all, drew clear from 2 out, easily, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gf beating The Entomologist (11-8) by a distance, 6 ran.
Patman Du Charmil (FR) Evensfav (11-8) Made all, clear 9th, unchallenged, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov chs (3) gf beating Seafield Bogie (11-8) by 16l, 5 ran.
Coin Man (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led, jumped left, joined 9th, soon headed, 2nd approaching straight, soon dropped to moderate 3rd and pulled up in race won by Whataboutya (11-5) at Clonmel 3m nov chs gf in Sept, 9 ran.
Joe Lively (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) In touch, led after 4 out, ridden 2 out, ran on, won at Lingfield 3m beg chs (4) gf in Sept beating Santando (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Classic Clover 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, outpaced after 13th, stayed on from 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Otantique (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf.
Minella Tipperary (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 10th, chance when not fluent 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 11, 22l behind Present Glory (10-4) at Ascot 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Thyne Spirit (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 6th, weakened 9th, 7th of 10, 17l behind Safe To Blush (10-6) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (5) gf in Nov.
