with leader, led 9th, ridden and headed after 5 out, kept on one pace
reminders after start, tracked leaders, led after 5 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on
made most to 9th, 3rd when fell 13th
tracked leaders, reminders after 4th and 8th, ridden when left 3rd 13th, outpaced 5 out, kept on approaching last
Lord Seamus gets the vote over Wildfield Rufo, with Joe Deane and the reappearing Ray Source not out of things entirely. This has the makings of a good contest, but we plump for Lord Seamus, whose recent Exeter success was only his second in 23 outings, the other coming at Ascot two years ago. So, he does not win too often, but the way he routed his rivals at the west-country track suggests that Kim Bailey's nine-year-old will be up to defying a rise in the weights. He has to give 12lbs to Wildfield Rufo who responded to first-time cheekpieces when scoring at Wetherby last time. That was on fast ground, yet trainer Kate Walton said that he appreciated the cut in the ground when he was successful at Newcastle earlier. So, he goes on any ground, has a low weight and can give the selection most to do. Joe Deane plugged on well when second at Wincanton, but might just need more give in the ground, while Ray Source is useful but has an absence to overcome, so for the winner we return to Lord Seamus.
