reluctant to race, behind, lost touch 6th, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway next, not much room on inside approaching 6th, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, headed before 2 out, close 2nd when mistake last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in rear, went modest 6th 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway 4th, weakened after 7th, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, challenged approaching 3 out, led before 2 out, hung right between last 2, stayed on well flat
prominent, pushed along and lost place after 5th, weakened after 7th
chased leader, led after 2nd, wandered next, driven before 6th, headed 7th, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent, hit 5th, weakened after 7th, tailed off
led until after 2nd, chased leader, challenged 6th, led next, headed approaching 3 out, still every chance between last 2, one pace flat
held up towards rear, not always fluent, headway after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
HARD AND FAST showed up well for a long while in his first run since October last time out, and can break his duck here at the 11th time of asking, but Come West and Rapide Plaisir are also worthy of consideration. Tim Vaughan's gelding drops down in trip from that run in May, which was his first for the yard after previously racing in Ireland. He's got the highest official rating by a mile (with the exception of Come West) but has plenty in hand at the weights with some here. The company is moderate to say the least, with none in great form. Rapide Plaisir's three career wins have all come over two miles, but whilst usually competitive, his challenges tend to fade over further. Come West is less exposed and can claim to have won this year, which none of the others can. That Towcester success was in a better race than this as well. General Alarm has only completed two out of five races this season; the only course winner here, that success came nearly three years ago. Toss The Caber is regularly placed, but hasn't won for four years. Tim Vaughan's famed for turning other yards' losers into winners, and we think he can continue that today with Hard And Fast.
General Alarm 100-1 (10-7) Reluctant to race, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Super Ross (10-7) at Southwell 3m 2f clm hdl (5) gd, 12 ran.
Come West (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place under pressure after 6th, rallied to challenge 7th, not fluent 8th, weakened after next, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Victory Parade (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Watch Out 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division until weakened 3 out, last of 17, 42l behind Danish Monarch (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Born West (USA) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Word Of Warning (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd.
Easyfix (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, detached after 2nd, headway 4 out, never nearer, 5th of 13, 20l behind Semi Detached (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Hard And Fast (IRE) 5-4fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon hampered, eased when beaten approaching last, 4th of 8, 26l behind Tribe (10-13) at Wetherby 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Iron Hague (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, struggling before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Darksideofthemoon (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Jethro Wheeler 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 4th, 5th of 9, 33l behind Tribiani (10-2) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Karinga King 200-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place when not fluent 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Word Of Warning (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Mycenean Prince (USA) 6-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened after next, 6th of 14, 28l behind Benmadigan (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
Toss The Caber (IRE) 11-4fav (10-10) Held up mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, effort approaching 2 out, weakening when hit last, 9th of 14, 20l behind Liberty Seeker (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sell hdl (4) gs.
Rapide Plaisir (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up, raced keenly, went 3rd 4th, closed approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 9, 30l behind Glengarra (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (5) gf.
