Nostrum was extremely well-supported, but couldn't hold on.
He was backed into 13/8F; he probably wouldn't have been as short, but there was a 20p rule 4. Either way, he would still have gone off as the favourite, and I thought he wasn't as keen as he usually is. Alistair Rawlinson gave him a solid ride, but the horse got headed inside the final fifty yards and wasn't able to get back in front. To add insult to injury, Mick Appleby's other runner on the card won at odds of over 20/1.
As for Ina Mina, that was a woeful performance. Considering it was the first flat runner in the UK for the trainer, I expected a hell of a lot more. The ride was shocking too, but it didn't make a difference in the result.
Brosay 10/3 – Salisbury 3.49
It looks like Brosay might have found a nice opportunity to gain a victory at Salisbury. I think it's fairly safe to say that he arrives with the best piece of recent form in this field, having finished as runner-up at Goodwood last time out.
At Goodwood he finished second by half a length in a Class 4 handicap. He travelled strongly enough through the race, which is a big positive considering he was carrying 10st 2lb. To add to this, he was sent off as the favourite, which showed that the stable thought he had a solid chance, which had been different from the big odds he had previously been on multiple of his outings this year.
He was second in the race prior to last time out, so it shows that he is lingering on a dangerous handicap mark, and that he is in good form. He has won off marks of 86 and 92 in the past, so we definitely know he's more than capable if on a going day. Also, his handicap mark is due to go up, but they've managed to sneak him in before the 3lb rise takes effect, making him ahead of the handicapper.
The stiff finish at Salisbury should suit, and the ground is unlikely to be an issue given his record on soft ground. The draw of six isn't terrible, and it should allow Nicola Currie to get a favourable position to secure a solid spot.
The main opponents for today's race come from the younger horses in this race, which is always a risk, as they are unexposed. However, they haven't shown an outstanding level of form, and we know Brosay was a useful horse once upon a time, and I think he'll have too much experience for them at this stage of their career.
GambleAware