Wolverhampton (AW) Races

Took keen hold - held up in rear - headway over 3f out - switched right and ridden over 1f out - hung left but led inside final furlong - kept on well inside final 110yds(op 14/1 tchd 11/1)

Held up in rear - outpaced over 3f out - headway over 1f out - switched right inside final furlong - pushed along and went second towards finish (inquiry held into running and riding of gelding which was restrained leaving stalls and raced in rear throughout before staying on nicely under hands and heels riding in home straight to finish second; rider was interviewed and shown recordings of race; vet examined geldingandhad nothing to report; jockey said that his instructions were to prioritise getting gelding to relax and switch off on this step up in trip having been keen previously; he said that the pace was an even one through first furlong and he was able to drop gelding in at rear of field finding a nice rhythm early; however thereafter the pace gradually slowed to the point that it became a muddling tempo mid-race with gelding taking a strong hold and losing ground when running onto heels; he said from leaving back straight he was trying to keep the bit up in gelding's mouth - with him being a long striding horse that needs holding together and the focus was on preventing him from seeing too much daylight too soon; thereafter - once in home straight he mounted his challenge between horses - whereupon gelding hung left-handed before eventually being able to avail himself of clear running by angling wider passing the 1f marker and riding out fully to line - to in his opinion achieve best possible placing; he indicated that he was under an explicit instruction from trainer not to usewhip on gelding)(op 4/1)

Midfield - headway against far rail and pressed leaders over 1f out - ridden inside final furlong - no extra inside final 110yds - lost second towards finish(tchd 9/4)