mid-division, headway 9th, ridden 4 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, effort approaching 2 out, one pace under pressure
pulled hard in rear, saddle slipped 3rd, pulled up before 7th
held up in rear, headway 10th, chased winner and mistake 3 out, rallied and every chance run-in, no extra towards finish
mid-division, dropped rear 9th, outpaced 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 6th, weakened after 4 out
led, clear to 9th, headed approaching 4 out, led again 3 out, hard pressed run-in, kept on
in touch, dropped rear 5th, ridden 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, challenged 11th, ridden 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear, headway 11th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened after next
Topweight Looking Forward and Double You Cubed both carry penalties for recent successes but preference is for the lightly raced Just Sooty. Nicky Richards has his team in good form at present and this nine-year-old looks well treated for his debut in a handicap, having shown promise in both starts over fences. Looking Forward beat an exposed bunch at Sedgefield on Tuesday and this looks tougher, especially under his 7lb penalty. Ayr winner Double You Cubed was beaten under his penalty on a return visit to the same venue on Saturday and is difficult to recommend here on his third start in a week. Jumbo's Dream has been running well but disappointed last time and is probably best watched now, while Pornic has become frustrating and is seemingly difficult to win with these days. Richard Guest's Jericho III cannot be ruled out but Just Sooty holds solid claims on his debut in handicap today and gets the vote.
