with leaders, lost place approaching 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 6 out
mid-division, outpaced 13th, left disputing poor 2nd last, no impression
tracked leaders until hit 7th, lost place next, pulled up before 2 out
with leaders until weakened 18th
held up in rear, headway 11th, led 13th, left well clear last, easily
led, mistake 1st, headed 13th, remained close up until weakening and in 3rd when unseated rider 2 out
held up, headway 13th, weakened from 16th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, headway 13th, went 2nd 4 out, 2 lengths down and no impression when fell last
towards rear, headway approaching 6th, blundered 11th, left disputing poor 2nd last, no impression
Our shortlist here contains Benefit, Native Eire, Seasquill and Trooper, with the vote going to Trooper. The selection just shades the vote here as he loves it at this track, having won three times over course and distance. Having also gained one of those successes from a ten pounds higher mark in May 2003, and having proven that he acts on going with cut in it, he might be able to take advantage of the handicapper's leniency now. Benefit rates a danger as he has proven himself consistent of late and, despite being seven pounds higher than for his win in a novices' handicap chase in May, has some fair recent efforts to his name and has won from today's mark over hurdles. Native Eire is a course winner - albeit it from a nine-pound lower mark - but he ran well from a pound lower mark at Fakenham last time. The possible downside is that he has not run since May. Regal River is also back to a winning mark, although he too has been absent, in his case since February, while Basil is now only three pounds above a winning mark but he has two ways of running. Finally, Seasquill is certainly now weighted to go well if anywhere near the best of his form to date and, even though he has not really lived up to his billing thus far, a mark of 74 is giving him a chance. Overall, though, it might pay to stick with tried-and-trusted course and distance form, so the vote goes to Trooper.
