Wolverhampton (AW) Races

Slowly away - held up in rear - steady headway from 5f out - went fourth going easily 3f out - nudged along over 1f out - led and ridden inside final furlong - kept on (trainer said - regarding the apparent improvement in form - that gelding had settled better from patient riding tactics on this occasion)(op 22/1)

Held up in rear - going okay but waiting for room home turn - pushed along and headway over 1f out - ridden inside final furlong - kept on final 110yds - went second final strides (inquiry held into running and riding of gelding which was slowly away and raced in rear throughout before being asked for his effort from approaching 2f out and finishing second beaten 1 length; jockey stated his instructions were to take his time and ensure he got gelding settled early on; he further indicated that the pace was strong and gelding - if anything - relaxed too well adding ideally he would like to have been positioned a couple of lengths closer to the leaders; however jockey on Moon Knight seemed intent on staying one horse off the rail which would have left him posted three wide without cover; from leaving back straight jockey explained that winner was on the rail but that runner had been badly out of form and he could not be certain that tracking him into the race was a high percentage option whilst Three Dons was under pressure three wide going nowhere which would have meant committing with a long sustained run at least four wide around runners as pace was quickening so he remained following Moon Knight; jockey added that he had obtained a clear passage when squeezing through a gap between Moon Knight and Three Dons approaching home turn before mounting his challenge where he still felt confident that his mount would run down the leaders and gelding made strong headway until his effort flattened out inside the final 110yds)(op 8/11)

Midfield - in touch with leaders 5f out - pushed along and went second over 2f out - ridden over 1f out - kept on inside final furlong - lost second final strides(op 18/1)