in rear when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
tended to jump right, led, headed and mistake 3 out, soon no chance with winner but clear of rest
not fluent, held up, blundered 8th, mistake 11th, disputing 5th and no chance when blundered 2 out
tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead 3 out, clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly
soon pressed leader, ridden and blundered 3 out, soon beaten
took keen hold, soon chased leaders, not fluent 5th, mistake 9th (water), ridden from next, soon lost place, tailed off
held up, mistake 7th, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
held up, disputing 4th and no chance when blundered badly and almost fell 2 out
The valuable Showcase Handicap has brought together a competitive field in which we'll go for Redemption, but Wave Rock and Barito are others to consider. The selection looked a very useful prospect for Paul Webber a couple of seasons ago, and he went on to achieve a rating as high as 144 over fences. Now with Nigel Twiston-Davies, he has not raced since April but, if anywhere near his best, has to be respected. Mr Baxter Basics rolled back the years to beat Wave Rock by two lengths at Worcester in May, his first success in three years. Wave Rock is now three pounds better off at the weights so it should, theoretically, be close between them. Barito represents German trainer Christian von der Recke. He won well at Plumpton on soft going in January and the form has a solid look to it. Search And Destroy is racing from a 10lb-higher mark than for his latest win, at Perth in June, and it is to be hoped that first-time blinkers help him to jump better than he did at Kempton four days ago. Wave Rock's trainer, Philip Hobbs, also runs Saragan, who, unraced for 248 days, looks the stable second string. Suspendid has been raised four pounds for his narrow Southwell success, while Rufius, along with Wave Rock a course winner, has been raised four pounds to a mark of 94 following a narrow Huntingdon win, but he is set to race here from eleven pounds out of the weights. It's a tricky race to get a firm view on but, from the list we drew up, we'll opt for Redemption ahead of Barito.