prominent, 3rd when badly hampered and unseated rider 9th
tracked leader, fell 4th
held up, mistake and hampered 4th, ridden and mistake 10th, mistake 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led, not fluent 12th, headed and not headed 2 out, weakened last
held up in touch, badly hampered 4th, left 3rd 9th, mistake 13th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
mistake and unseated rider 1st
raced wide, in touch, headway 11th, pecked 13th, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on
mid-division, ridden 12th, headway next, pecked and rider lost iron briefly 4 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
in touch until hampered and unseated rider 4th
held up, unseated rider 2nd
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, hampered and unseated rider 9th
mistake and unseated rider 1st
left 2nd 4th, ridden after 13th, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened after 2 out
Not as open as the forecast betting would have us believe and a race that can be taken by likely favourite Runaway Bishop, with Steel Mill and Indian Laburnum best of the rest. Runaway Bishop is in fine form, having landed successive races over three miles at Huntingdon and then over two-and-a-half miles here at Towcester. The Lear Fan gelding loves some cut in the ground and although he has a 7lb penalty to shoulder for his latest win, he looks up to the task in a weak race. Steel Mill won over course and distance last time out, which was his first career success in 15 attempts. That was a very weak affair and he looked flattered by the wide margin of victory, so it is doubtful that he is capable of following up even with the considerable assistance of Mick Fitzgerald from the plate. Nevertheless he can make the frame, along with Indian Laburnum. The latter is still learning his trade after just five outings and looks like trip and ground will suit him. However, his jumping is a bit chancey and needs to improve for us to put him up as a likely winner, so for the selection we will stick with Runaway Bishop to complete a hat-trick.
