in touch, slightly hampered 4th, hit 7th, behind from next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders 3rd, mistake and outpaced by leaders 3 out
in touch, effort 3 out, chased leader before next, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, stayed on well
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
prominent, tracked leader 4th, led 4 out, mistake next, not fluent 2 out, 2 lengths clear and mistake last, headed flat, no extra
with leaders, left in lead 4th, headed 4 out, weakened quickly after next
led after 2nd until unseated rider 4th
mid-division, behind from 7th, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, lost place 7th, soon well behind, tailed off
close-up, chased leader 3 out to approaching 2 out, where mistake weakened and pulled up before last
in rear when blundered and fell 7th
mid-division, weakened 7th, tailed off
held up in rear, kept on under pressure from 3 out, never going pace to reach leaders
A competitive start to the day's proceedings with 17 runners set to face the starter and not surprisingly several have claims including Hirvine, Balladeer and Polish Cloud but the vote goes to Willie John Daly. The selection showed improved form for being stepped up in trip at Fontwell last month and looks well treated for his handicap debut on a mark of 113. He makes more appeal than another handicap debutante Material World, who seems to have plenty of weight for what he has achieved. Hirvine, who unseated his rider at Warwick early on last time is 15lbs higher than when scoring at Folkestone previously and may now be too high in the weights. A similar comment applies to King Georges who has been raised 9lbs for his latest effort since which he has been given a break. Balladeer may find this trip too exacting on this ground, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Water Sports appears to be in the grip of the handicapper if judged by his last two starts. All in all, Willie John Daly, representing the back to form yard of Philip Hobbs, holds solid claims and gets the vote.