in touch, chased winner 2f out, ridden and out-paced over 1f out, kept on final furlong
prominent until weakened 2f out
made most to 3f out, weakened quickly
held up, headway 6f out, weakened and behind final 2f
towards rear, well behind halfway, kept on final 2f, never nearer
keen hold in mid-division, no headway final 2f
behind, brief effort on outside 3f out, soon ridden and beaten
tracked leaders, led 3f out, pushed clear over 1f out, ran on
held up, headway over 3f out, outpaced by leaders over 1f out
held up, headway 4f out, stayed on inside final furlong
prominent until weakened rapidly over 4f out, tailed off
An interesting race but not one that is easy to fathom - particularly given the testing going - as there are a number of big-name stables represented. Chief among these are Martin Pipe's Gebora and Paul Nicholls' Sweet Diversion. They are both late foals so will surely have plenty of growing and strengthening to do. Both are hard to assess, have to be respected but the market might prove the best guide. It could be, for factors already stated that they are worth taking on. Apollo Theatre is well bred - by Sadler's Wells out of a Warning mare that stayed 10f and won over 7f on soft as a two-year-old - and showed some promise on his Fontwell debut. Harry Collins showed promise in a better event (Galadhrim behind him that day) on his debut and is entitled to respect. Ramirez was a promising second behind a Nicholls runner at Taunton on his debut. He looks up to winning a race of this nature and must also be on the shortlist. Noel Chance has done well in these types of event and he runs River Joy (whose dam won twice over hurdles) and, once again, the market might be worth watching. Myson is bred to stay well (along jump lines) but he too was a late foal and may need time. Upriver Run showed some promise on his Newbury bumper debut (over 12f) but jockey bookings seem to suggest that he is the stable second string. Taksina was well beaten here on her debut. An intriguing but tricky event. Watch the market but Harry Collins, with a decent 7lb claimer on board, could well be the one and is the selection.
