led until 6th, led after 4 out, ridden clear before next, stayed on well
held up, jumped right at times and not always fluent, mistake 3rd, headway 13th, went 2nd 3 out, no chance with winner
held up, pecked 1st, closed 4th, pushed along from 7th, struggling 10th, pulled up before next
jumped right at times, tracked leader from 1st, not fluent 3rd, led 6th, headed after 4 out, no impression on winner and lost 2nd when blundered 3 out, blundered and weakened next
chased leaders, not fluent 13th, weakened after 4 out
2nd until 1st, chased leaders, pushed along after 10th, closed 4 out, soon outpaced, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd last, closed on 2nd flat, no chance with winner
Jimmy Shan has been placed twice over hurdles at Southwell lately but has been pulled up in both previous tries over fences so has plenty to prove. Harris has ability but usually needs a run or two to put him straight and can be hard to predict. Lock Towers looks very one-paced but Bouggietopieces should be thereabouts having only found one too good off this mark at Perth 12 days ago. READY TOKEN won at Fontwell in June and was then only beaten half-a-length by Clubs Are Trumps in a blanket finish at Ffos Las. The winner has gone from strength-t-strength since and Charlie Longsdon's top weight can shrug off a short absence to land this.
Ready Token (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Made most, headed narrowly 3 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on, held towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Clubs Are Trumps (11-1) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Bouggietopieces 7-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway 10th, mistake 3 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Bertie Milan (10-13) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Harris (IRE) 9-2fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, pulled up 11th, at Bangor 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Jimmy Shan (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Led, went right 5th, ridden after 2 out, not fluent and headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind The Big Dipper (11-4) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Lock Towers (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Led 1st, soon headed, stayed handy, not fluent 10th, every chance flat, stayed on, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Forever My Friend (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
The Society Man (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) In touch until 9th, pulled up before next, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
