held up keen behind leaders, switched right and headway over 2f out, ridden to lead soon after, ridden out
with leader, disputed lead 3f out, ridden over 2, switched right when approaching final furlong, no impression
prominent, steadied after 2 furlong, ridden soon after, weakened over 2f out, soon behind.
Waterline Blue is the clear pick on official ratings and should have the class to record his second career win; Hilites is preferred to Lotto for the forecast. Lotto ran out a very convincing winner at Brighton last time, but that was a very weak race and Peter Makin's filly will have her work cut out to repeat that here. Hilites is a thoroughly genuine filly who seems to thrive on racing. She struggled in a good nursery at York earlier this week, but had won nicely at Windsor before that and should be capable of a good showing. But Waterline Blue is rated over ten pounds clear on official ratings, and David Evans' gelding is hard to oppose here. Eighth in the Coventry Stakes on only his second start, he then got off the mark at Leicester and has since run with credit in some good conditions races. This represents something of a drop in class, and while he would not be one to take an extremely short price about, Waterline Blue is still a worthy selection in the evening's opening race.
