towards rear on inside, steady headway from 6th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, kept on under pressure, flat
mid-division, headway 7th, well placed when unseated rider 8th
in touch, lost place 4th, ridden 7th, stayed on
tracked leader until weakened 8th, pulled up 3 out
towards rear, some headway 5th, lost place 4 out, pulled up next
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
in rear, headway 7th, hampered next, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
led, ridden and jumped right 3 out, headed after last, no extra
held up towards rear, kept on but never near to challenge
A very ordinary contest where much will depend on whether Dere Lyn suffers from the bounce factor after his recent comeback success, and we will side with him to do so at the main expense of Just Beth and Cracow. The selection sprang a 66/1 surprise when deservedly winning a Hereford handicap hurdle after a 27 month absence, and he will be much shorter today. Clearly after such a long lay off horses often run a little flat second time back, but he has been given six weeks or more to recover and hopefully that can prove a good decision. He won't mind the cut and can follow up. Just Beth has been running consistently well in the summer but is 11lb higher than her last win. This trip will suit and she can go well fresh, but the ground is enough of a worry to pass her over here. Featherweight Cracow showed that staying is his forte with a decent effort at Fontwell last time and with that run under his belt he looks good enough to improve and make the frame again here, but Dere Lyn's last start left the impression that he could win more and he can do so today.
