held up, pulled hard, headway 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, keen early, headway after 7th, weakened flat
pressed winner to 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up and behind, headway on outside aproaching 3 out, no chance with winner, went 2nd 2 out until last, weakened flat
made all, clear approaching 3 out, eased near finish
prominent, pushed along approaching 7th, hit 2 out, no chance with winner, went 2nd last until towards finish
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, outpaced 7th, rallied flat to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
held up, headway approaching 6th, chased winner after 7th until 2 out, weakened last
Nonrunner
A host of horses with questions to answer here, the pick of them being WATCH OUT over Quinte De Chatelet and Share Option. Dean Coleman's mount landed a gamble for connections when winning a selling hurdle two starts back before being pulled up in better company off this mark last time. Today represents another step up in class and whilst that might suggest this five-year-old will struggle, we take encouragement from the fact that the horses winning form has come when carrying no weight against seemingly superior opposition. Off 10st today and with the able Coleman taking off a further 5lb we fancy that the gelding can return to winning ways over what is an ideal trip. Quinte De Chatelet is another David Pipe representative on the card and this one is worthy of much respect in such an average contest. The gelding looked potentially smart when making a winning debut for connections in a novice hurdle race, that victory coming by some 24 lengths in similar conditions to those faced here. Since then the horse has disappointed more than once but that is reflected in his mark, one that may be generous if the horse can return to anything like the form showed when slamming Sangfroid in that Taunton contest. The last named is now rated 122 whilst Tom Scudamore's mount runs off just 97 here, clear evidence that the horse may be thrown in although he'll have to have come on for his last moderate run behind Jocheski. Share Option has been well held in better company since winning a selling hurdle comfortably but todays drop in class may spark a revival and that would bring Tony Carroll's horse firmly into the reckoning here. The seven-year old likes it here and it would be no surprise to see him figure in the finish today. Overbranch is another whose best form would put her bang there but the mare may need further respite from the handicapper before returning to the winners circle although Malcolm Jefferson's charge has won off much higher marks in the past. Soft ground does seem to suit the six-year-old and so she is another potential winner in this very trappy contest, as is Benny The Piler who returns to this grade having struggled in better company last time, but we like Watch Out and he can lead them home.
Mars Rock (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 6th, badly hampered bend after 7th, soon pulled up, in a race won by So Now (11-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Share Option 33-1 (10-10) In rear, hit 4th, some late headway, never in contention, 11th of 24, 14l behind Lord Ragnar (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs.
Benny The Piler (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Spring Breeze (10-5) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Scaramouche 28-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, not fluent and rider lost iron briefly 1st, headway approaching 8th, every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Raise You Five (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft, 17 ran.
Quinte du Chatelet (FR) 12-1 (10-12) With leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 15, 30l behind Jocheski (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gd.
Quay Meadow (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Held up in touch, hampered 8th, driven and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Spring Breeze (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Pardon What 11-1 (10-9) In touch, struggling and well held 4th 3 out, went poor 3rd 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Bubbs (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f sell hdl (5) sft in Aug.
Watch Out 7-2fav (11-6) Held up in rear, some headway 10th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Dew Drop Inn (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd, 17 ran.
Overbranch 15-2 (10-10) In touch, lost place 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 14, 20l behind River Logic (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy.
