in touch, pushed along approaching 3rd, weakened 7th
towards rear, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, ridden and some headway 2 ou, no impression after
held up behind, headway to lead 2 out, soon ridden, headed when hit last, one pace after
held up toward rear, headway 5th, ridden every chance 2 out, weakened appraoching last
held up, headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, led last, kept on well flat
Four of them make appeal here, those being Mantilla, Old Nosey, Schoodic Point and Howaboys Quest, and we will side with the improving Mantilla. The Ian Williams-trained mare progressed from selling company earlier in the year to run well when twice second in handicaps in June. A short break was followed by success last time out at Fontwell, when she outpointed Arjaypear and the six-year-old is definitely going in the right direction. A 5lb rise will not make this easy, but as she is on the upgrade she can defy it to win over a trip that will suit. Old Nosey took a similar contest at Perth last time out, beating End Of An Error by five lengths and will be no back number here, but does not look as scopey as the selection and the frame beckons for him. Schoodic Point rattled off into a big lead here last time before being headed and beaten from quarter of a mile out. The others will not want to risk letting him go too far again here over this slightly shorter trip and he could pose a threat if he can hold that sort of form, which is the main question as far as he is concerned. Of the others, Howaboys Quest might be good enough for a place, but despite winning a Cartmel seller a couple of runs ago his limitations were exposed last time and he does not look the winner here, for our selection has to be Mantilla.
