in touch, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace
led, headed 7th, led again approaching 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace run-in
prominent, blundered 7th, struggling from 5 out
in touch, outpaced 5 out, soon driven, ran on stongly running, nearest at finish
held up, in 5th when blundered 3 out, ridden after last, no impression
soon chasing leaders, blundered 6th, blundered 8th, soon weakened
tracked leader and keen, led 7th, headed 2 out, soon driven, kept on running, no chance with winner
in touch, led 2 out, driven after next, clear run-in
mid-division, pushed along approaching 7th, outpaced from 5 out
always behind
Pailitas can take this novices' handicap, from Rescator and Santa Lucia. The selection has ground conditions in his favour, acts well at the trip, has fitness on his side and Richard Johnson booked, which give us plenty of reasons to side with him. Rescator is back to a mark just 2lb higher than when winning a Hexham seller a year ago. He also likes to hear the hooves rattle and back on ground that he will enjoy, we can put recent efforts on unsuitable ground behind him and he can go well. Of the other Santa Lucia makes some appeal off a mark 12lb lower than she won off over hurdles at Perth last July. She drops back considerably in trip here and although she handles this ground that is a bit of a worry. She may be capable of fighting out the finish in a race where there are not too many obvious winners, but we will stick with Pailitas to produce the goods.
