keen, mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, soon eased
slowly into stride, behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, never reached leaders
slowly into stride, always behind
chased leaders 2f, soon behind
held up, headway 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened and eased over 1f out
keen, with leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, headway halfway, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
chased leaders, ridden halfway, stayed on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous
led, ridden over 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 3f out, stayed on same pace
in touch, lost place after 2f, no danger after
Encounter can beat Tojoneski and Back In Spirit, with Zietzig worth a mention. Encounter will be fit enough, having been in action over hurdles at Musselburgh in December, and his placed form in Banded company at Warwick and Ayr gives him obvious claims. James Hetherton's charge is a shadow of his former self and has not won since May 2003, but those placed efforts look good enough in the context of this event. Tojoneski was a beaten favourite at Lingfield last time when he never threatened to get into the the thick of the action, but he too has claims on the strength of a close second in claiming company at Epsom in July. Back In Spirit won here three years ago and has failed to add to that since, while Zietzig is thrown in on his best form but has not run since August. All in all, this is typical banded fayre, and only the smallest of stakes is recommended on Encounter.
