prominent, chased leader 4th, mistake 5th, lost 2nd before 11th, weakened approaching 14th
held up, reminders after 10th, headway 15th, hampered 16th, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, led approaching 12th, headed next, weakening when mistake 4 out, blundered badly 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, still in rear when mistake ,virtually fell and unseated rider 14th
jumped badly right, led, headed when blundered and unseated rider 12th
prominent, mistake 2nd, lost place 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
held up, pecked 2nd, struggling from 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway on inside 12th, jumped left 15th, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed and no extra flat
held up, headway 10th, reminded after 5th, rider dropped whip approaching 15th, mistake 16th, outpaced 3 out, rallied 2 out, led after last, stayed on
Most of these are exposed and we take Secret Drinker to be straight enough on his seasonal reappearance, with Benefit, Apple Joe and See You Around all likely to go well. Secret Drinker goes well fresh and loves to get his toe in. Jimmy McCarthy gets no well with him, the gelding jumps well in the main, and off a mark just 2lb higher than his career best he looks capable of landing the prize. Benefit is another who acts with cut, but has done his most recent winning on good ground and so that is a bit of a worry. He is also still higher than his best winning mark, and has been well beaten on soft ground just lately, so he is opposed. Apple Joe was a winner over trip and ground at Plumpton a year ago, but he is still 10lb higher and is therefore opposable having failed to win since, while See You Around is dropping to a fair mark, handles cut and a test of stamina and can perhaps be the one to give the selection most to do. But Secret Drinker has plenty going for him and is our choice here.
