held up, headway 4 out, chased winner approaching 3 out, no impression
held up, losing touch when jumped slowly 7th, behind when pulled up before 8th
led until headed after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
prominent until 5th, jumped behind when jumped left 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up and keen, headway 5th, led after 4 out, clear 3 out, kept on well
prominent until weakened 4 out
prominent, mistake 7th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
mistake 1st, held up, headway approaching 7th, chased winner briefly approaching 3 out, one pace
held up, struggling when mistake 8th and 9th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
This looks to be an opportunity for Apadi to get his nose back in front, with previous course and distance winners Pharbeitfrome, Tender Touch, and also Macgyver having claims. The selection has won here before himself, though not over fences. However, he has gone pretty well on two of his four starts this summer and there was no disgrace in his eight length defeat by in form Fiery Peace at Market Rasen last time out. With trip and ground again in his favour, and off a fair mark, he looks good enough to land the prize. Last year's winner Pharbeitfrome takes his chance again after a seven month break from the racecourse. Though conditions are in his favour here and he looks capable of going well from this mark, he has never run well after a break and others are preferred today. Macgyver is one of them. He goes well for his lady jockey, as evidenced by a convincing win at Uttoxeter a couple of starts ago. Unfortunately the handicapper did not miss that effort, but despite a hike in the weights he looks capable of going close with trip and fast ground in the plus column. Of the remainder, Tender Touch makes some appeal. A course and distance scorer from this same mark 13 months ago, she now makes appeal again having dropped down the weights. She has been in decent enough form of late, except for her latest start, and she could turn out to be the one to give the selection most to do. However, things are falling into place just nicely here for Apadi, who gets the vote.
