held up and pulled hard, headway to lead 4th, clear approaching 7th, clear when fell 9th
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, badly hampered 9th, not recover, behind when blundered and unseated rider last
pulled hard, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
pulled hard, headway to lead approaching 2nd, hit 3rd, headed 4th, left in lead 9th, ridden and mistake last, stayed on
mid-division, headway when slightly hampered 9th, ridden and hung left from 3 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, ran on towards finish
led to 2nd, prominent, ridden 3 out, one pace flat
always towards rear, badly hampered 9th, never a factor
always behind, slightly hampered 9th, tailed off when blundered last, virtually pulled up
Ponderon can beat the other penalised runner Gold Guest in the finale, with Toni Alcala and Cansalrun likely to give a good account. Dual Flat winner Ponderon impressed with his attitude when scoring over this trip at Wetherby in May and looks set for a bright future with his small stable. The only doubt is that this is his first run since that eye-catching victory over Enhancer, but if not too ring-rusty, he can make his class tell. Gold Guest was a more prolific winner than the selection on the Flat, having gained seven successes in all, but he was basically plating class, and he did not beat much at Newton Abbot in July. He has since been kept in trim back on the Flat and does at least have a fitness edge over Ponderon. Toni Alcala shaped well enough on his timber bow at Cartmel in the summer and is another that has been busy on the level since. He has plenty of stamina, and might even find this trip on the short side. Cansalrun very nearly opened her account when touched off by subsequent winner Space Cowboy at Fontwell in May, and is worth noting whatever she does on her return to action here. She is one for next time perhaps, but today it has to be Ponderon to come out on top.
