tracked leaders, effort 5th, ridden to chase winner 4 out, no impression from next
in touch, hit rails on stands bend, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up, hit 7th, headway to chase winner 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, led 1st, clear 2 out
keen, held up, weakened after 4 out
led to 1st, chased leader until 4 out, soon ridden, kept on to chase leader last, no impression
Jericho III comes here without a penalty for his win in a conditional jockeys' handicap at Leicester on Tuesday and gets the vote to complete a quick hat trick at the main expense of Brave Thought and Raw Silk. The last mentioned has held his form well since winning at Carlisle in October although he appears to be in the grip of the handicapper at present. Lauderdale is only 3lbs higher than when scoring at Kelso in October and has claims if able to reproduce that form but he has three times been a beaten favourite since and is proving to be expensive to follow. Brave Thought has shown improved form of late and is another worthy of a mention but the vote goes to Jericho III. Richard Guest's gelding has made all to win his last two starts at Kelso and Leicester, latterly when beating the well-handicapped Barton Nic, and he should be able to follow up off the same mark today.