always towards rear
held up rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
mid-division, blundered 1st, fell 2nd
tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden after next, no extra when headed final 50 yards
prominent until 2nd, behind from 4th, pulled up after 5th
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up mid-division, blundered 5th, headway to join leader 3 out, driven to lead final 50 yards, all out
led, headed and mistakes 3 out, weakened
Obay was easily the best of these on the flat and might be worth chancing on his hurdling debut in a race where Verasi and Canni Thinkaar rate the obvious dangers. Lack of hurdling experience for the selection is obviously a concern but Obay was a useful middle distance performer on the level with Ed Dunlop and is sure to have been well schooled for his first start over timber. Verasi deserves to win a race having found one too good in each of his two starts over hurdles so far and is the one most likely to benefit from any hurdling deficiencies that the selection may have. Canni Thinkaar has the benefit of experience after five starts over hurdles but, along with Sir Frank Gibson, is basically exposed. A bigger threat then may come from recent Folkestone third Mr Dinglawi but Obay looks a potentially useful recruit to the juvenile hurdling ranks and gets the vote.