led early, chased leaders, led before 5th, headed 10th, weakened last
soon led, headed 3rd, led 10th, ridden before last, headed flat, held towards finish
always behind
mid-division, towards rear when not fluent 6th, blundered badly 8th, well beaten after
never better than mid-division, well beaten from 10th
prominent, led 3rd, headed before 5th, went 2nd 2 out, led flat, stayed on
chased leaders, lost place before slow 1st, blundered 7th, outpaced in 5th after 10th, no impression
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
Louis' Vac Pouch is on a long losing run but Royal Village was a wide-margin winner over track and trip in the summer and usually runs well here. Buster Thomas is well treated if wind surgery has had the desired effect and Gortroe Joe’s Perth conqueror has won three times since. OSCAR MONTEL hasn’t done much wrong since joining Charlie Longsdon and has been dropped 3lb since his latest second at Worcester. He can give the weight away to the hat-trick seeking Flamboyant Joyaux
Prince Escalus (IRE) 7-4 (11-4) Led until before 3 out, chased winner, pushed along before lost 2nd next, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 4, 25l behind Oscar Rose (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Led, headed before 2 out, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Minella Trump (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in May.
Royal Village (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up, hit 4th, headway 12th, ridden 2 out, kept on into third flat, 3rd of 9, 14 1/4l behind Exelerator Express (11-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Oscar Montel (IRE) 16-5 (10-8) Chased leaders on inside, ridden before 3 out, no impression in 3rd 2 out, left 2nd last, 2nd of 5, 9 1/2l behind Rhythm Is A Dancer (10-10) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 10-3jfav (11-7) Held up in rear, ridden after 14th, detached before 4 out, tailed off before 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Do Not Disturb (11-2) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Buster Thomas (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Bumped 1st, chased winner from next, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, no extra and mistake last, 4th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Princeton Royale (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Luckofthedraw (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Led, not fluent 8th, headed 13th, ridden 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened, last of 4, 26 1/2l behind Instant Replay (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Flamboyant Joyaux (FR) 6-4fav (11-6) Held up in last early, raced freely, progress after 1st, tracked leader after 4th, led after 8th, going best under 3 out, pressed under 2 out, left clear after last, in control flat, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Wolfcatcher (11-7) by 7l, 6 ran.
