tracked leaders, lost place 8th, soon ridden, rallied 3 out, chased winner approaching next, one paced last
held up, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened approaching 8th, behind when fell 9th
held up and pulled hard, hampered and unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
made all, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent to 8th, soon behind
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
The penultimate event on the card should not take too much winning and Majority Verdict should make the most of the weight he receives from recent winner Champagne Harry, while The Dark Lord and Be My Tops may battle for a place. Majority Verdict was returning from a long absence when second here in March and so nearly went one better when beaten a short-head by Longshanks. On the first occasion he was tried over two miles but was upped six furlongs last time. It was a head-bobbing finish and the pair were 10 lengths clear so there is no reason to doubt the form. The slight drop back in distance is not a worry and Majority Verdict can take this before eventually going over the bigger obstacles. Champagne Harry popped in at 25-1 at Hereford but was quietly fancied so should give a good account without being able to concede 7lb to the selection. The Dark Lord may need the outing but is going the right way and Be The Tops should be noted in the betting, hailing as he does from the Jonjo O'Neill stable and running in the colours of J P McManus.
