mid-division, pushed along and no impression home turn, late headway for 4th
led, headed after 3rd, ridden to press leader 2 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, weakened last
mid-division, pushed along and weakened home turn
mid-division, pushed along and struggling home turn, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along and struggling home turn, never in contention
held up, headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well flat
held up, headway on inside home turn, pushed along and outpaced 2 out, weakened last
prominent, took it up after 3rd, ridden and headed approaching last, ran on well flat without threatening
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, plugged on thereafter, kept on same pace from last
always towards rear, never a factor
APPLAUS wasn’t beaten far at Hexham last month and has a decent record around here with his last victory coming on this track in November 2020. The 10-year-old is still 4lb higher but Becky Smith has more experience than most amateurs riding in this. Ex S'elance seems to be running into form and The Raven's Return wasn’t winning out of turn at Wincanton last month. Zafar looks the pick of the remainder as he doesn’t know how to run a bad race and is only a pound higher than when successful at Musselburgh earlier this year.
Zafar (GER) 4-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, headway to go prominent 6th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, ridden when rider lost whip approaching last, kept on but no match for winner flat, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Ashington (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Applaus (GER) 7-1 (11-5) Soon rear of mid-division, pushed along before 5th, some headway 2 out, stayed on from final bend, went 3rd approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Cup Of Coffee (11-4) at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Follow Your Arrow (FR) 4-1 (11-12) In touch in mid-division, headway before 5th, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Johnson's Blue (10-8) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Fiadh (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, not fluent 4th, mistake and lost place 9th, well beaten before 3 out, 7th of 9, 26l behind Charm Offensive (11-4) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Gulliver Collonges (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place before 4th, well beaten when jumped left 3 out, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Petty Cash (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
The Raven's Return 10-3 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden to join leader at last, led on run in, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Salley Gardens (11-8) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Lusitanien (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 4th, close up after 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 25l behind Atlantic Dancer (11-2) at Ayr 2m hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Rickety Gate 6-1 (10-9) Prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, weakened from last, 8th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Hiway One O Three (10-8) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Ex S'elance (FR) 5-1 (10-0) Chased leader until after 3 out, driven after 2 out, 3rd last, kept on, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Everyday Champagne (10-13) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Pistol (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 13, 15l behind Killane (10-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Mar.
