in touch, lost place 4f out, soon behind
held up, always behind
raced keenly, held up, effort 3f out, soon ridden and weakened
with winner, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up, outpaced 3f out, never on terms
in touch, chased winner over 3f out, ridden and no impression entering final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on well final furlong
slowy into stride, soon in touch, ridden over 1f out, switched left entering final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, no impression
This looks just an average race and one in which RAFAAN is selected ahead of Decorum and Ruler Of All. This is Rafaan's third start and he has shown promise in both starts to date. He signed off last year with a run at Yarmouth and this well-related gelding is expected to appreciate the longer trip today. Ruler Of All hardly impressed on his debut at Newmarket where he was beaten twelve lengths behind Redwood but the form has been franked since and this son of Saddler's Wells will be more at home over this distance. Those to have gained an official rating make about as much appeal as walking over hot coals with the exception of Decorum. John Gosden's three-year-old son of Dynamformer is not an obvious one for this trip as although his sire was a winner over this trip the majority of his siblings have been sprinters. He has a mark of 76 but that probably looks a tad high. This looks a three-horse-race really and preference is for Rafaan.
Grail Knight 40-1 (9-3) Dwelt and went right start, in rear, pushed along 6f out, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 7, 23l behind Caribana (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Jan '08.
Piccolo Pete 13-2 (8-10) Dwelt, towards rear, never dangerous, 13th of 20, 17l behind Lewis Lloyd (9-2) at Redcar 7f sell stks (6) gf in May.
Three Gold Leaves 80-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden along over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 13, 28l behind Moonquake (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gs in Jun.
Our Serendipity 100-1 (8-4) Keen, prominent, ridden 5f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off from over 2f out, last of 8, well behind La Estrella (9-13) at Southwell 1m 4f clm stks (6) fbs in Nov.
Cooperman 200-1 (8-10) Slowly away in rear, raced keen, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 29l behind Everynight (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Mar.
Decorum (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Father Time (9-0) at Great Leighs 1m 2yo mdn stks (4) pol in Nov.
Rafaan (USA) 3-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Marching Time (9-3) at Yarmouth 7f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Sep.
Ruler Of All (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) In rear, pushed along and some headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 17, 12l behind Redwood (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2yo mdn (4) gf in Oct.
Elevate Bobbob 50-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened 3f out, last of 9, 42l behind Clippity Clop (8-9) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) fbs in Mar.
Napoletano (ITY) 22-1 (8-10) Very slowly away, always outpaced, last of 8, 30l behind Elisiario (9-12) at Southwell 7f mdn auc stks (5) fbs in Mar.