raced wide approaching 5th, ridden 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
in touch to 6th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, never dangerous
headway after 7th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on
tracked leader, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace
led, raced wide and headed 5th, gradually weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway after 6th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, mistake last, headed and no extra flat
chased leaders until ridden and mistake 8th, weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 7th, ridden and one pace approaching 2 out
chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up, lost touch from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
headway after 7th, challenged leader approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well to lead flat
chased leaders to 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
headway after 7th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway approaching 8th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
never a factor
A difficult race to unravel and there are 'ifs and buts' about most of the field. The drop back in trip and fitting of the tongue tie for the first time failed to produce the goods from Sure Future at Uttoxeter last month and he was eventually well held behind Field Master and the winner on that occasion. However, his Carol Gray-trained rival is now set to race off a 20lb higher mark than when he was successful at Taunton in an amateur riders race (same jockey today) in October and he looks vulnerable here. Wagner has done little wrong since joining Jonjo O'Neill and is holding his form well this term. However, he does have a tendency to switch off in his races and is not one to trust implicitly. Wend's Day and Nemisto have yet to conclusively prove that this sort of trip is ideal for them but the booking of Norman Williamson for the former is enough to enhance his claims of a better show today. There are no such doubts about the trip with Half the Pot, who ran up a nice little sequence at this time last year, and this drop back in grade is enough merit him getting the vote. He is not the largest of animals so his current rating would be a slight worry, but he has stamina to burn - which could become a decisive factor if the cut in the ground begins to take it's toll close home.
