held up, headway 6th, hard ridden and no extra approaching 2 out
in mid-division, weakened 5th, behind from next, tailed off
always behind, tailed off after 3 out
pulled hard in touch, ridden to lead narrowly 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat
mistakes, held up in 5th, mistake 5th, tailed off 3 out
always behind, tailed off 3 out
always behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching last, driven and stayed on well flat
tracked clear leader, chance 2 out, weakened quickly and eased before last
held up in touch, mistake 4th, promising effort approaching 2 out, ridden and beaten approaching last
led, and clear from 4th, mistake 3 out, headed and not quicken 2 out, stayed on flat, no chance with winner
Quite a competitive novice event to finish with and several who can be fancied. Ayr winner Derivative look to have a stiff task giving weight to some promising types, but he is open to improvement and it would be dangerous to underestimate him, while Ain Tecbalet, the winner of a chase in France, looks to be the stables second string, behind Tollbrae. The latter was only just touched off by Spud One at Huntingdon and this stiffer track here should suit him better. He gets the vote to come out on top from Hirapour, who runs here in preference to a race at Hereford. He showed improvement for the step up in trip last time and he handled testing ground on the flat, so he looks to provide the main danger.
