This Listed Open Handicap over 2200m was a very hard run true test of stamina late in the season and saw the first six, in a field of ten, cross the line separated by a length. The first four runners home all looked to be going up and down on the same spot the closing stages with tanks flashing empty and it saw the clear favourite Felaar (he was one of them) get up by half a head. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were fifth (three-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader), second (three-off the inside a head from the leader), led, (three-off the inside and a neck ahead), second (four-off the inside and a head from the leader), fifth (three-off the inside and three and a half lengths from the leader), seventh (six-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), second (five-off the inside and one length from the leader) and second (three-off the inside and neck from the leader). Felaar got a great run fifth the outer not spending a penny more as those up front kept rolling along and his rider in show of almost arrogance and over-confidence let the rising 6yo slide up third deep across the top under a grip. The attempt to intimidate the opposition saying look at me under a grip while everything else is under pressure and duress never worked one iota as Felaar came up a close second turning for home but soon after himself had no ping and felt the full whip often. Felaar had hit a big flat spot, as he has shown in his late maturing career to date, and backers were suddenly realising he is not going to put this field away from the minimum of 53kg. He was second at the 200m and 100m and 50m and not getting there but got in the bob that matters on the line, so too his credit he kept grinding away but it should have been easier surely. The winning time was a slick 2:14.28 (the track record here is 2:13 set in 1990 by Mr Booker in this very month of April too) so this is a particular trip here where times are often faster than expected or explainable. It was the fourth win in nineteen starts for Felaar and as a gelding he will keep racing for as long as possible plus could make a nice jumper at some stage too as he certainly one-bats from a long way out and has the loping stride of a leaper. Igraine was uber-brave in defeat as she sat outside the leader and kept the pace strong throughout and attacked for the lead a long way out to be a total sitting duck before the home turn. The 6yo mare was there to be swamped the run home but she kept boxing on and only got caught on the line plus it is worth noting she carried 3kg more than the male Felaar. Igraine wins this for sure if not let loose so far from home as the rest were one-batting the run home all under stress trying to get alongside her let alone make the pass. Jacksstar, a last start winner (that recorded his first success since December of 2016) ran on from ninth on settling and reached fourth at the 200m, but like the rest was one-battling the closing stages closest in and out on his feet. The rising 8yo was just over half a length away from the winner at the line and carried 4.5kg more than Felaar. Hunta Pence deadheated for fourth after racing handy the inner and he too one-batted the run home. Dolcetto under 60kg ran home strongly down the outer from last and to deadheat for fourth and gave the winner 7kg so it was a big effort indeed. Balham put some perspective into the race result depth when running on stoutly down the outer for sixth beaten a length as this rising 9yo was fresh up since January and has not won a race since November of 2017. The gap back to the rest was almost three lengths and Mental Telepathy was okay very late while Tiptronic stopped badly and is a suspect stayer let alone being very hit and miss. Royal Ruby led and weakened out while Real Beech was outclassed after racing fourth the outer. This was a solidly run pressure cooker race but not a strong field at all and the fact that six runners across the line were covered by a length is very telling indeed especially as one of those was a rising 9yo fresh up in Balham that had not won a race in ages. The stamina query on most of this field is more to do with almost all of them having no ping or pick up and having extended flat spots, so they cannot get out of trouble or need things handed too them on a plate to prevail. Dolcetto was absolutely massive under topweight of 60kg but he has not won a race since December 2017 and that in itself puts a spotlight on this field depth. Felaar has been given more time and shown more patience than most but is not getting any younger and today if it is possible was an unimpressive winner. He won so got the job done but it took him 2199m to score and on the minimum, against the lot that included some old shy winners and a couple well and truly out of their class too. Maybe he cannot sustain as long a run as his rider thought or connections had convinced themselves but also he went from under a hold to being under a hard whipping ride in mere metres so that ping or pick up or lift was not there. He may have had the ping trained out of him and is now very dour and a grinder through and through asking to be freshened up or a different approach adopted. Igraine was colossal in defeat and will sleep well and the rising 7yo mare on rain-affected footing has a decent race in her albeit she is not getting any younger either.