mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, soon beaten
in touch, lost place 3rd, behind from 6th
mid-division, ridden and mistake 4 out, kept on for poor 4th
tracked leaders, led approaching 4th, clear next, jumped right 6th and 7th, ridden 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened
in touch, tracked leader 6th, led 3 out, clear last, easy
behind, lost touch 6th
in rear, jumped right from 6th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
in rear, jumped right throughout, lost touch 6th
in touch, headway 6th, ridden when pecked 8th, weakened 4 out
Alrafid can land this at the expense of Mirant and Dream On Maggie. This is not a great race and the selection although lightly raced has the ability to win a race of this nature. His most recent outing was eye catching when finishing second at Hereford and he will not need to improve on that to win this. Mirant comes from the Pipe stable and has the services of McCoy on board. That in itself is a good tip and the fact that the horse ran well enough when fifth of ten on his return from a long lay off means he is entitled to improvement so any market moves should be noted. Dream On Maggie comes from a yard hot in form and he did win a seller at Hereford on his penultimate run. He looked exposed against better horses last time out and that may be the case this time too. So for the winner we return to Alrafid.
Alrafid (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) In touch, chased winner after 4 out, ridden approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Wiscalitus (11-0) at Hereford 2m beg chs (4) gf in Jun.
General Alarm 5-1 (11-1) refused to race in race won by Kivotos (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Jun, 14 ran.
Harry Potter (GER) 11-4fav (11-12) Always in rear, lost touch 6th, pulled up before 8th pulled up 5 out in race won by Sir Brastias (11-11) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in May, 10 ran.
Mirant 12-1 (11-5) Led, ridden 3 out, headed, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 10, 32l behind Moon Catcher (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in May.
Predicament 14-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 5th, went 2nd after 2 out, 2 lengths down when fell at the last in race won by Penzance (11-0) at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) gf in May, 8 ran.
Dream On Maggie 9-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 8l behind Fu Manchu (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Losing Grip (IRE) 4-1fav (11-0) Led, headed 2nd, lost place after 3 out, 7th of 15, 11l behind In No Hurry (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun.
Precious Lucy (FR) 20-1 (10-6) Led, ridden 5th, headed 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 11, 13l behind Tom Bell (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
