prominent, mistake 7th, hit 10th, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, led again last, headed flat, held towards finish
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led 8th, headed before 4 out, weakened before next, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 12th, led 2 out, headed last, no extra towards finish
held up, headway when hit 11th, led flat, stayed on well
held up in rear, headway 6th, jumped right 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led until 8th, ridden after 10th, weakened from 11th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, ridden and lost place from 9th, behind 12th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch in mid-division, headway 10th, challenged 4 out, 3rd last, stayed on
Smokey George should prove better than he's shown so far over fences and is a better long-term prospect than the likes of Maizy Missile and Sonic Anthem. Dot Or Feather and Backstreet Billy have a bit to prove after being pulled up when last seen while Midnight Charmer was disappointing when favourite at Hereford in May. QUINDER SPRING didn't beat much at Cartmel in August but was only beaten a length-and-a-quarter off a much higher mark at Market Rasen next time and, though 4lb higher again here, looks the one to be on.
Dot Or Feather (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 5 out, soon headed, weakened next, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Delgany Gunner (9-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun, 5 ran.
Backstreet Billy (IRE) 11-8fav (10-8) Took keen hold, tracked leader until 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Romanesco (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in May, 4 ran.
Smokey George 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, pushed along after 3 out, weakend before 2 out, 9th of 11, well behind Patavium (10-13) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Jan.
Quinder Spring (FR) 5-4fav (9-10) In rear, headway 10th, chased winner when hit 2 out, ridden and no impression flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Baily Storm (10-8) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Maizy Missile (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) In touch in mid-division, closed 7th, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Schinken Otto (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Sonic Anthem (USA) 13-2 (10-8) Led, driven and headed before 4 out, blundered next, soon one pace, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Beggar's Velvet (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Stafford Charlie 6-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, blundered badly and hampered 9th, mistake 12th, pushed along 4 out, weakened 2 out, left in 2nd at last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Michigan Assassin (11-7) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gf in Aug.
Midnight Charmer 11-8fav (9-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 8th, challenged on bit 3 out, jumped left and not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Got The Urge (10-9) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in May.