led, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace next
mistake and unseated rider 2nd
tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden out
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden and outpaced next
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway when mistake and unseated rider 7th
chased leaders to 7th, soon behind
towards rear, headway 6th to track leaders, effort 3 out, 4th and beaten when blundered last
in touch, blundered 1st, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, kept on to chase winner flat
Giocomo and Argento are both shortlist material here, but Alvino is in great heart at present and gets the vote. The selection ran his best race to date when a good second behind Palua at Huntingdon last month. He is a strapping gelding and should be good enough to see off his rivals here. Giocomo looks the main danger as he was well supported in the market before scoring at the expense of Khan Kicker at Hexham. If the market speaks in his favour again then he has to be seriously considered. Argento looks the best of the rest as he won well when beating Double Blade at Catterick last month. But he is perhaps flattered by the bare form of that race, as he was left unchallenged from a long way out. Pittsburgh Phil is the other one that catches the eye and he would certainly have chances on his best form, but he is returning from a break and may find a couple too good in this contest. An interesting race which could prove to be quite informative for the future, but we are happy to side with Alvino.
