mid-division, soon pushed along, lost place from 6th, soon tailed off
held up, headway 6th, hit next, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, clear flat
chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, led next, soon headen in 2nd and beat when blundered last
in rear, headway 5th, one pace and no impression from 3 out
held up, blundered 6th, weakened 8th
in touch, headway 5th, mistake 7th, soon outpaced, ridden 3 out, stayed on flat
led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace from last
behind and pushed along, mistake 3 out and rider lost iron, soon pulled up
chased leaders, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
A fairly competitive contest here and one that can be taken by Manoram, who might just have the edge over Macgyver, In Discussion and River Mere. The selection has been in decent nick this summer, with a couple of placed efforts followed by a 10 length defeat of All Rock Hard when visored for the first time in a similar contest at Worcester on his latest start. The Ian Williams-trained gelding likes to race up with or even make the pace and he may not come back to them on this faster ground. He may just be capable of defying a 10lb rise here, though it won't be easy. Macgyver has also done well recently, winning at both Uttoxeter and then Southwell last time in a soft race. Upped 9lb for that success, this race is more competitive and he might be found wanting. In Discussion comes from the still in-form Jonjo O'Neill camp and needs to be taken seriously. However, he may be in the handicapper's grip after toughing it out to win a seller at Market Rasen and then going up a further 3lb for finishing second there last time. The same can be said of River Mere, who drops back in trip here but also faces a stiffish task after some consistent form has seen him rise up the weights. Our suggestion here then, is Manoram.
