close up and chasing group, mistake 2nd, chased clear leader 4th to approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch in chasing group, smooth headway on bit to chase clear leader approaching 2 out, closed last quickened to lead final 75 yards
close up in chasing group, chased clear leader approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
in touch in chasing group, short lived effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened
prominent in chasing group, driven 4th, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out
took keen hold and prominent in chasing group, no impression and weakened approaching 2 out
led, mistake 2nd, soon 20 lengths clear, 8 lengths up 2 out, 3 lengths clear last, kept on well flat until not pace of winner, headed final 75 yards
raced keenly, chased clear leader to appoaching 2 out, weakened and no chance when mistake 2 out
well in rear, struggling after 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last
mistake 1st ,always behind, tailed 4th
Andy Gin, Carraciola, Short Change, Domenico and Novi Sad appear on our shortlist for this race, with the vote going to Domenico. Looking at the runners. French Import Andy Gin has raced only twice in this country, winning a juvenile event at Exeter - beating recent Ascot winner Visibility - and then running unplaced at the Cheltenham festival. Carraciola showed respectable novice form last season and should win his share this year, although the selection beat him three lengths at levels at Uttoxeter on soft going last November. Reiziger won four times as a novice hurdler and then went on to win a couple of chases. He looked a horse of great promise until getting injured and comes here following a break of 616 days. The beautifully-bred Domenico will not lack for fitness and, despite being seven pounds higher in the ratings than for his Southwell win in September, has claims with his rider claiming ten pounds. Silk Trader is rated six pounds higher than when winning over course and distance on heavy in March but lacks a recent run. Short Change could be well handicapped. He races under a penalty following an easy Warwick success. This is much tougher but, as we say, he seems on the right side of the handicapper at present. Pirandello won twice in the spring, and now finds himself nine pounds higher in the weights. We'll find out more about him today, although he has been beaten from his revised mark. You can make a case for Wild Romance based on her Irish form, but her British runs have yet to match it. Nowator is lightly raced over hurdles and won a Hereford handicap off a mark of 93 in May, for which he has been raised nine pounds. That form is not too bad, although more looks to be needed today. My Galliano won on the Flat at Epsom in July but is 14lbs higher in the ratings than for his Wincanton handicap win in 2001 and lacks a recent run. Novi Sad is rated only four pounds higher than for his Ascot win in March (where he beat We'll make It, who runs in the opener on the card) and, lightly raced since, is entitled to have supporters. However, for us the vote goes to Domenico.
