tracked leaders, mistake 4out, soon under pressure, headway to chase winner 2out, never able to challenge
tracked winner, under pressure 3out, weakened after next
made all, pushed along 3out, clear when mistake last, eased close home
raced in touch, struggling 4out, soon behind, tailed off
raced in rear, in touch, mistake 1st, pushed along 4 out, soon behind
raced keenly, tracking leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, soon outpaced
Rafta can't be ignored given the weight that she receives but she isn't the most straightforward and it can pay to concentrate on LUCAINDUBAI, Khorun and Totoman. Lucaindubai settled far better than he had done previously when winning readily at Newton Abbot and he looks capable of making further progress now that the penny has dropped. Totoman's sole success over hurdles came on soft ground at Bangor on his penultimate start and it may be that he needs to get his toe in in order to show his best but Richard Johnson prefers Khorun who looked a useful prospect when winning by twelve lengths on debut for the yard and is feared most with the underfoot conditions not expected to prove a problem.
Khorun (GER) 10-11fav (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led before next, clear approaching 2 out, mistake last, eased towards finish, won at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) gd beating Dereks (12-5) by 12l, 6 ran.
Totoman 6-4fav (11-5) Led to 4 out, weakened approaching next, 6th of 9, well behind Saltagioo (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Lucaindubai (IRE) 2-1 (10-9) Made all, hit 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, easily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in May beating Caught By Witness (11-0) by 15l, 11 ran.
Calypso Bay (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway next, ridden and weakened after 5th, 11th of 14, well behind Comehomequietly (10-7) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Granakey (IRE) 11-4fav (8-10) Outpaced in rear, headway over 1f out, edged left, never on terms, 6th of 11, 7l behind Scruffy Skip (8-11) at Southwell 7f hcp (0-55) (6) fbs in Apr (flat).
Rafta (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Held up, took keen hold, saddle soon slipped, headway 6th, 4th and ridden when lost pad well before 2 out, went well held 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Rio Gael (11-4) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
