in touch when fell 7th
in touch to 4th, soon ridden and lost place, tailed off from 2 out
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, soon no impression
led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 5th, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
behind, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, kept on, not reach winner
in touch, smooth headway to lead after 3 out, 6 lengths clear when jumped left, stumbled and lost bridle last, held on
mid-division when hampered and unseated rider 7th
raced keenly, not fluent in rear, lost touch 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, led 3rd to 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
soon behind, never dangerous
tracked leaders, headway 7th, led briefly after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
Approaching Land has not had a great deal of racing for a 10-year-old and may well have been found a suitably soft contest to finally open his account so he gets the vote ahead of Greenfort Brave and True Temper. The selection has obviously had his training problems but has shown enough in his last three starts, all in selling hurdles, to suggest that he should be too good for his rivals today. Hurdling newcomer High Country would not need to be out of the ordinary to take a hand but was nothing special on the flat and of more interest may be True Temper, who has run to a similar level of form in two starts over hurdles. Coachman is only a poor plater, while Greenfort Brave is marginally preferred to stablemate Corries Wood of the two Irish raiders. However, Approaching Land sets the standard and he gets the vote to give Mick Easterby another winner.
Approaching Land (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Led, ridden and fell 3 out in race won by Clydeoneeyed (9-8) at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in May, 10 ran.
Coachman (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Always behind, 8th of 11, 43l behind Wally Wonder (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf.
Corries Wood (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, 6th and beaten when blundered last, 6th of 8, 20l behind Mocharamor (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf.
Greenfort Brave (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Hit 1st, raced keenly and led after 3rd, headed 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 9, 11l behind Melmount Star (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (E) gd.
High Country (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Soon led, ridden over 3f out, headed well over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 18l behind Jake Black (11-2) at Pontefract 1m 2f amt hcp 0-75 (5) gd (Flat).
Lanhel (FR) 66-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, behind from 3 out, 5th and beaten when fell at the last in race won by Lahib The Fifth (11-5) at Perth 2m nov hdl (E) gf, 8 ran.
Fighter Command 8-1 (9-11) In touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, well behind French Mannequin (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 4f clm (6) pol in Jul (Flat).
True Temper (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Tracked leader, headway 4th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, blundered last, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Ostfanni (10-7) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (E) gf. Later dsq to last.
