jumped right, led, mistake 6th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, 2nd and beaten when fell 2 out
held up in touch, blundered 1st, hampered and lost touch 7th, left remote 3rd 2 out, left 2nd last, no chance
held up, went 3rd at 4th, headway approaching 3 out on bit, left 2nd 2 out, challenging when blundered and unseated rider last
with leader, led approaching 4 out, hard pressed when left clear last
An interesting little contest that appears to revolve around how well Manawanuwi will handle the predicted cut in the ground this afternoon. However, his two outings this season have left the impression that he strengthened up plenty during the off-season and Robert Alner's charge is fancied to have too much toe for The Nomad and the bang-in-form Bob's Buster, who will do well to land his fourth win of the season off a mark just over a stone higher than when his run of good efforts started. Brave Thought completes the line up and has claims on the best of his Irish form. However, he has to prove his well-being after tipping up at Hexham last time and it can safely be assumed he would have stayed in his homeland if his former trainer, Michael Purcell, thought he was going to be anything out of the ordinary. Therefore, Manawanuwi, as the most progressive runner in the field, is taken to continue his climb up the ratings - even though he will never reach the equivalent heights of the mountain New Zealand he is named after.
