towards rear, ridden 5th, kept on under pressure, never nearer
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, ridden 6th, headway 2 out, stayed on, not reached leaders
close up, ridden 5th, weakened next
held up, ridden headway 3 out, kept on one pace
led, challenged from 3 out, hit next and headed, stayed on same pace
held up, lost touch after 6th, tailed off
always prominent, pressed leader from 3 out, led next, ran on
held up, headway 6th, kept on one pace
with leader, ridden and weakened after 6th, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, behind 4th, pulled up after 6th
A typical low-grade contest to get the day underway at the Norfolk venue and this could be one for the locals in the shape of Dunraven, who is taken to prove too strong for the likes of Lucky Archer and the none too reliable Divulge. Matt Gingell's charge won the handicap on the corresponding day here last year, and although he has to race off a 6lbs higher mark here, this is a weaker contest and he should prove well up to the task. Divulge would be more at home in a kennel, rather than a stable, but this sharp track should keep him interested a little longer than normal and it would be no surprise to see him in the frame. Lucky Archer has been lightly raced over timber and has shaped very much like a non-stayer. However, this is the weakest race he has contested over hurdles and if he is every going to get the trip, it will be around here. Of the others Sammagefromtenesse has been some way below the form he showed when landing one of these contests at Hereford in the Spring, but cannot be entirely dismissed, while Husky would have a squeak if he could reproduce his second to Sovereign State at Stratford back in July. He will certainly appreciate the return to this grade, but we are happy to stick with Dunraven, who seems more straightforward than most.
