always prominent, went 2nd 4 out, switched right after 3 out, ridden to lead flat, ran on
in rear, lost touch 6th, blundered badly 2 out, pulled up before last
led, ridden and veered right approaching last, headed flat, held close home
raced keenly, tracked leader until 4 out, weakened approaching last
held up in 4th, pulled hard, blundered 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off
Withdrawn
Not a bad race at all for the track and despite the small field you could only really rule out Colemanstown and Secret Cavern with confidence, and the vote goes to MUTUAL FRIEND. David Pipe gives the gelding his chasing debut here over a nice galloping track and with conditions to suit. Although he stays further he should have the speed for this return to two miles and he is sure to have been well prepared, so we will side with him. Postmaster looks the main danger. Evan Williams' seven-year-old came good over fences at the fourth time of asking when obliging at Fontwell and so his experience is not underestimated. Even so, it is questionable how much improvement he has left and so he looks opposable. Mam Ratagan put up a good performance in context when runner-up over this trip at Ffos Las and looks to be going the right way. He may actually represent some value against the likely market leaders, while Norborne Bandit is solid, if one-paced, but of sufficient ability to be bang there as they start to quicken. An interesting race and Mutual Friend is the suggestion.
Postmaster 6-5fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway when blundered 9th, led 3 out, shaken up 2 out, went clear last, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chase (4) gd in Jun beating Light Yield (11-0) by 20l, 6 ran.
Colemanstown 200-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, soon prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 8, 40l behind Any Given Day (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Mam Ratagan 16-1 (10-12) Led, soon clear, driven and challenged from 3 out, headed last, stayed on well, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Danehill Willy (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nov stks (3) gd in Jun.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 7-2fav (9-11) Held up in group of 5 off the pace, mistake 5th, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Master Nimbus (10-13) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Secret Cavern (USA) 100-1 (11-3) Always in rear, mistake 6th, 13th of 16, 42l behind Pascha Bere (11-3) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb '08.
Mutual Friend (USA) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 3 out, headway soon after, effort next, stayed on same pace, went 3rd final strides, 3rd of 8, 8l behind First Point (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
