held up in touch, joined leader 6th, ridden 4 out, challenged last, soon led, driven out
held up, mistake 5th, outpaced 8th, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden, ran on well towards finish
held up towards rear, fell 8th
tracked leader, lost place approaching 7th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on and no impression last
in touch, chasing leaders 7th, ridden and mistake 4 out, weakened from 2 out
close up until lost place after 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden approaching 2 out, under pressure last, soon headed, no extra flat
The Wetherby crowd will raise the roof if Barton returns fit enough to do himself justice and he should make a bold bid to banish the memory of what was a poor season by his standards last term. However, as that cannot be guaranteed, Ardent Scout is fancied to be the one to beat today. Halexy and Turgeonev are others that are respected in their claims and are one to watch out for if they are supported. But they all have something to prove for one reason or another so a process of elimination brings us back to Ardent Scout, who simply went from strength to strength last season. The eleven-year-old does have a little question to answer with regard to this drop in trip but, as he has fewer negatives beside his name, Ardent Scout is the first to look for in the betting market. Halexy appeals as the best of the rest if the framing of the betting speaks against the selection.
