held up in rear, headway 7th, led 4 out on bit, drew clear after next, easily
not fluent in touch, blundered 2nd, mistake and dropped rear 7th, pushed along 5 out, left poor 3rd 4 out, no impression
in touch, headway 8th, led 5 out, headed next, not pace of winner
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
tracked leader, reminders and lost place 7th, hit next, no danger after
mid-division, pushed along 8th, outpaced 10th, kept on one paced from 4 out
led, headed 5 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
tracked leaders to 10th, weakening when blundered next, soon behind
towards rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
Richard Guest complicates matters by saddling two runners in this showcase handicap but, with topweight Xaipete arguably better over two miles, narrow preference is for Red Rampage. His best form is over further than this but, with a good gallop ensured and coming into this in good form following a recent win at the track, the son of King's Ride seems a better bet of the pair. The selection though is Waterberg. Henry Daly's gelding failed to stay three miles at Stratford last time and should be better suited by the return to this distance. The son of Sadler's Wells has winning form on a fast surface so would not mind any further drying of the ground and his stable remains in good form. Extra Proud, who returns after an absence, has more to do than when winning races at Kelso and Stratford in the summer and a bigger danger to the selection may be Chevalier Bayard. James Adam's gelding just gets into the weights proper, remains reasonably well treated and goes on the ground. Just Strong looks the best of the remainder.
