not fluent, in touch, mistake 5th, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure to go moderate 3rd flat
close up, mistake 4th, led approaching 3 out, headed and weakened approaching last, finished tired
pulled hard in rear, well behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
made most until after 2nd, chased leader until weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out (wore cheek pieces)
held up, good headway after 2 out, challenged last, driven to lead flat, all out
behind, lost touch from 5th, tailed off
pulled hard, led after 2nd to approaching 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up after 2 out
not fluent, held up and behind, mistake 2nd, tailed off from next
held up, good headway after 2 out, led approaching last, headed and found nil flat
took keen hold in touch, mistake 5th, soon tailed off
Quite a few of the 11 runners return to the fray here including Alice Reigns and Sel. The latter has finished in the placings three times in all, notably when unluckily beaten at Plumpton in April, as her saddle slipped two out. She was still only beaten a short-head, and although not seen out since disappointing at Towcester in May, is capable of a big run. Many will fancy Alice Reigns who made a successful start on her only appearance in bumper company at the Kent track in January. She has not been seen since though and it is hard to evaluate the form. Therefore the TEAMtalk vote goes to the fitter Carnoustie. A winner on the Flat at Beverley in 2001, Richard Philips' charge scored at Newton Abbott in June, and providing the rain stays away, she should be bang in at the finish. A couple of ex-Flat performers, Animal Cracker and Thundering Jay-Sea, make their debuts over hurdles, but on what they achieved on the level, are best given a watching brief.
