in touch, joined leader 8th, led 3 out, clear after next, not fluent last, unextended
set steady pace, headed 3 out, soon pushed along, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out, no impression when blundered next, soon tailed off
tracked leader, mistake and lost place 5th, pushed along next, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 2 out
Despite his penalties, Freedom Now can bring up his four-timer, with Amandari suggested as the likely one to chase him home. The Micky Hammond-trained selection has come of age this year and has looked progressive in winning his last three races. Quite simply, he has a lot in hand on official ratings and is hard to oppose. Amandari, officially rated 47lbs inferior to the selection, showed a little more than of late in his last run, but that was in a selling handicap and much more is needed today. Once again, then, the selection is Freedom Now.