held up in rear, headway 4 out, weakened approaching next
tracked leader, challenging when hit 3 out, led between last 2, stayed on well
prominent, one pace 2 out
led and raced keen, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace
tracked leaders and keen, headway when not fluent 6th, weakened 3 out
These could be famous last words but MALAKAI has the look of a shoo-in here and is taken to win it from Railway Park and Carmela Maria. The selection is another sent to Wetherby today by Howard Johnson, whose runners have really hit form, and fitness after a six month absence is unlikely to be a problem. His sole outing to date saw him pick up a Hexham bumper, and given his pedigree as a son of Double Trigger and a half-brother to staying hurdle and chase winner Balladeer, he should be at home over trip and on this ground. He is a confident choice. Railway Park has had numerous opportunities and came closest to winning in similar conditions at Sedgefield when A P McCoy partnered him in a seller, but is clearly beatable. Michael Sowersby saddles Carmela Maria, a 59-rated flat performer who should stay this far and acts on fast ground, and has been in reasonable form just lately, so she is not dismissed from completing the forecast here. New Shuil has shown nothing to get the juices flowing, while English Archer has been bang out of form on the flat and does not look good enough. Malakai should be a comfortable winner.
English Archer 100-1 (9-7) Behind, never nearer, 12th of 15, 22l behind Hurricane Thomas (9-13) at Beverley 1m 2f am hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sep (flat).
Malakai 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway and prominent 6f out, smooth headway to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Hexham 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr beating Beauchamp (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
New Shuil (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden and weakened final 2f, 8th of 16, 27l behind Shut The Bar (10-0) at Catterick 2m mdn NH flat (6) gs in Jan.
Railway Park (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 12, 30l behind Shadow Dancer (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Carmela Maria 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 10, 5l behind Simple Jim (9-0) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sep (flat).
