tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, soon headed, faded towards finish
held up in rear, some headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
held up in rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead on line
keen, close up, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, kept on under pressure until caught on line
behind, headway on wide outside approaching final furlong, kept on and edged left inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
led, ridden and headed 1f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, tracked leaders, came wide bend 2f out, weakened quickly
prominent until weakened 2f out
always behind
held up in mid-division, switched right and headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
raced in mid-division, no headway final 2f
A good race to complete the card and an obvious opportunity for Quantum Leap to finally regain the winning thread at the expense of recent winners Double M, Ever Cheerful and Joy And Pain. Quantum Leap looked desperately unlucky on Saturday when narrowly failing over six furlongs in an amateur riders' race. With a professional rider aboard this time and less weight in the saddle to carry, he is back over optimum conditions and should be good enough to land the finale. Double M is stepped up in trip following a win here over six furlongs. He wins more than his share round here although the combination of more weight and an extra furlong hardly inspire one to back him again. Joy And Pain won here in November under an inspired Richard Hughes ride. Jimmy Fortune will have to be at his most persuasive to repeat the dose. Ever Cheerful ran out a very easy winner of a weak Wolverhampton seller earlier this month. He knows his way round this circuit but the handicapper has had plenty of opportunity to assess him. This is very much Taranaki's best trip and while age has evidently blunted some of his raw speed, he should not be ignored if he is supported in the market. Many plausible possibilities in this race but having considered all the evidence, Quantum Leap looks a decent proposition in the nightcap.