in touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened before next
tracked leader, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
towards rear, never dangerous
led, headed 4 out, slightly outpaced next, rallied to lead last, kept on
mid-division, headway to lead approaching 2 out, headed last, weakened flat
in touch, ridden 3 out, soon no extra
mid-division, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, kept on one pace flat
tracked leaders, effort and every chance last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, pushed along 3 out, headway under pressure between last 2, no extra flat
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on one pace
mid-division, pushed along 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division, struggling from 4 out
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra flat
always behind
A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Ballyhurry, Rehearsal and Master Nimbus and the tentative nomination is given to Ballyhurry. The selection was a fair third behind Divine Gift last time out. That form has since been franked and off the same mark and under similar conditions here he looks a value bet in an open affair. Rehearsal rates the main danger on the pick of his form but he still looks weighted up to his best and the suspicion is he may just need the run after a 148-day abscence. Master Nimbus was a fair fourth behind Flamand last time out and is another with place claims but he is best when allowed to dominate and as that does not look likely he is taken on. Front Rank was third behind Ballyandi last time and will appreciate this faster surface so he could go well at a price. Gone Too Far is on a handy mark but although he travels well in his races he often finds less than expected off the bridle and he is opposable on this basis. This is a trappy affair but for the winner we will stick with Ballyhurry.
Gone Too Far 4-1 (11-11) Held up, headway 7th, weakened 4 out, tailed off from next, 4th of 6, well behind Jallastep (10-2) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Sept.
Sunday City (JPN) 7-1 (11-7) Stumbled and unseated rider in race won by Red Moor (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in May, 9 ran.
Rehearsal 4-1fav (11-7) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden, no impression approaching last, 6th of 15, 16l behind Lennon (11-2) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Front Rank (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Billyandi (11-9) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Sept.
Culcabock (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 10, well behind Gabor (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Aug.
Ballyhurry (USA) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Divine Gift (10-12) at Perth 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Master Nimbus 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 23l behind Flamand (9-10) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Acceleration (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Arresting (10-2) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
