tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 5th, ridden and behind from 7th
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 7th, effort after 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway 7th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace under pressure
in touch, mistake and dropped rear 9th, soon lost touch
always prominent, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching next, no between last 2
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, rallied to lead again approaching next, driven out flat
held up in touch, headway 8th, ridden and effort after 3 out, 4th and held when stumbled and fell 2 out
Forest Ivory is a one-time useful hurdler-chaser but now in decline and recent efforts have been modest. Vilprano, the only course and distance winner in the race, has winning form at the track from a two-pound higher mark so has to come into the reckoning. Denarius has had leg problems but possesses ability. He has won at the track and is certainly now dropping to a more-reasonable handicap mark and is racing over this type of trip for only the second time in his career. Tobesure stays the trip but won off a mark of 90 at Kelso (now 101 less his useful claimer's five-pound allowance). The lightly raced Mister Dave's won off a mark of 91 at Wetherby (now 101) on good to firm in May but has been beaten since and has a 204-day absence to overcome, despite his stable's good form. Yankie Jamie has had leg and breathing problems but, lightly raced, has won from a mark of 83 over hurdles (now 100). Sir Ruscot is also lightly raced but is bred for this game and has shown bits of form but has been absent for 238 days. It is hard not to be drawn by Charlie Swan's Irish raider, Nearly A Gimme. He is rated 9lbs higher than when he last ran in Ireland but Irish raiders have to be respected and he gets the TEAMtalk vote largely as a consequence of that and the fact that, archetypally bred for the jumping game, he is lightly race an open to improvement. Bold Cardowan is 6lbs higher than for his last win (in May) although he ran well from a mark of 94 (93 today) on his last placed effort, over a shorter trip. Nip On, a winner from a mark of 93 (now 91) eighteen months ago, has been running over shorter trips mainly since that last win, although he would probably not want it too soft. Maraud ran second to Camp Nou (a winner since) at Southwell last time. He is fully entitled to run well from his current mark and rates the danger. Despite being bred for this game, Ross ark has shown little in three runs.
