in rear, pushed along 5th, ridden next, some headway after 7th, never dangerous
held up towards rear, hampered and unseated rider 3rd
always behind
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3rd, ridden after 7th, led flat, driven out
in rear, pushed along and struggling 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-divsion, headway 5th, ridden after 7th, led approaching 2 out, jumped right final 2, headed flat, not quicken
mid-division until blundered and unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, pushed along 6th, short lived effort before next
held up, not fluent 2nd, brought down 3rd
led to 6th, soon ridden, weakened next
prominent, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
took keen hold, tracked leader to 3rd, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
pulled hard in rear, pulled up after 3rd, saddle slipped
tracked leaders, reminders after 5th, weakened next
Pips Assertive Way gets the nod over Red Opera, Mickey Pearce and Earlsfield Raider. Trainer Tony Carroll is double-handed here with Arthurs Dream and Pips Assertive Way, and preference is for the latter who bids to defy a 7lb penalty after her convincing all-the-way success in similar company round here just five-days ago. That was over two-furlongs shorter, but she showed no signs of stopping at the end on Saturday, and jockey Mattie Batchelor will be confident that she can crack on and force the pace throughout again. Red Opera, a winning stayer on the Flat, paid the penalty for trying to dominate proceedings on his hurdles bow at Plumpton, and now drops in grade. It will be interesting if he tries to take the selection on, and lack of experience over the obstacles could prove costly. Mickey Pearce has that in abundance, and lines up on the back of a recent selling victory at Towcester, his third in this grade. The fast ground is a worry though, and he has to give a stone to the selection as well. In addition he is much worse off at the weights with Towcester runner-up Earlsfield Raider, who in turn is passed over, with Pips Assertive Way the one to beat.
Mickey Pearce (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 6th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, carried right between last 2, hampered flat, all out, won at Towcester 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gd in Oct beating Earlsfield Raider (10-12) by a hd, 14 ran.
Arthurs Dream (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 12, 19l behind You'vegotmerocking (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gs in May.
Aliby (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Always in rear, last of 9, well behind Magical Wonderland (10-12) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Chunky Lad 14-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on flat to go 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Ballybeg Glen (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Colemanstown 100-1 (10-12) Mistake 9th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Tashkandi (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) sft in Oct, 12 ran.
Earlsfield Raider 6-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, blundered 3rd, headway approaching 7th, ridden before next, hung left last, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Tashkandi (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) sft in Oct.
Endless Night 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 20, 39l behind Mexican Bob (11-0) at Lingfield 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Oct.
Ninety Nine Looks (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) In touch, weakened 5f out, 11th of 16, 45l behind Run For Moor (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Pinkerton Mill 40-1 (10-5) Held up, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 18l behind Le Corvee (11-1) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Pips Assertive Way 9-4fav (10-5) Jumped right occasionally, made all, mistake 5th, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gf in Oct beating Star Tenor (10-5) by 7l, 15 ran.
Red Opera 5-1 (10-12) Led, clear after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Silver Serg (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Something Simple (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, outpaced from 3 out, 7th of 13, 15l behind Last Pioneer (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in May.
Soviet Sceptre (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, saddle soon slipped and pulled up 3 out in race won by Ballybeg Glen (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (5) gf in Oct, 15 ran.
Trackattack 25-1 (10-7) Keen and mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened, 12th of 15, well behind Sahara Prince (11-0) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Oct.
