tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 3rd, struggling halfway, soon beaten
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
behind, blundered 1st, never dangerous
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4th, headway 2 out, stayed on
Vigoreux won his first British race last week and he looks good enough to follow up here, before rising in the weights, with Half Inch and Swallow Magic also perhaps good enough to be involved. The selection does of course have to carry a 7lb penalty here, but he travelled well in his win at Uttoxeter and showed plenty of guts when called upon to battle out the finish. He kept finding a bit more that day, and can do so again to defy his penalty in this. Half Inch has benefited from a drop by the handicapper and has been involved in the frame on each of her last three starts. She has raced on fast ground but on her one attempt on good to soft she put up a creditable effort and with that drop in the weights she can again make the frame. Of the others, Swallow Magic would make plenty of appeal based on his maiden hurdle third on firm ground in Ireland earlier in the year, but has a bit to prove after flopping last time and we take Vigoreux to score.
