tracked leader, led after 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, hit 4th, ridden after 8th, weakened 4 out
in touch, headway 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out
led, headed after 8th, soon weakened, held off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, weakened next
Not many runners but difficult to choose the winner from the horses on the top end of the market with Ottoman, Exodous and Doce Vida expected to fight this one out with preference going to the in-form Richard Guest-trained Ottoman, who bids to follow up his recent Hexham win under a 7lb penalty. Alan King saddles two in the race, Doce Vida and King Of Barbury. Richard Johnson always rides the more fancied Doce Vida while stable jockey Choc Thornton gets the mount on the stable second string. Exodous quickened up nicely to beat an improved Sir Walter at Worcester last time out and has to be respected again this time but with an 8lb rise in the weights the handicapper has not allowed an easy follow up victory. That brings us back to Ottoman who connections must feel has a better chance of another victory carrying a penalty before being reassessed by the handicapper. He won nicely at Hexham that day and is given the nod to score again.
