held up towards rear, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway and effort 2f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, headway to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
slowly in to stride, held up towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, weakened over 2 furlong out
in touch, headway over 2f out, soon ridden and effort, no extra final furlong
tracked leader, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up in rear, headway with not much room over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression when not much room again inside final furlong
slowly in to stride, towards rear, never dangerous
made most, until over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out
Nicky Hammond's Archfiend appreciated the drop to this distance when second to Rocinante at Redcar earlier this month, and has to be respected off just a 1lb higher mark, but that today's faster conditions may not be ideal and preference is for Theatre Lady, who is preferred to Encounter. The last mentioned is closely handicapped with Archirondel on Redcar running and should again be thereabouts. Shifty, who was a lose fifth in that same Redcar contest and has been dropped 1lb since, Blue Venture, who has slipped to a fair mark, and the reappearing We'll Meet Again all have claims. Mark Brisbourne has his string in good form and saddles three runners Milk And Sultana, Zouche and Lieuday, who all warrant respect but the vote goes to Theatre Lady. The David Evans-trained filly has been running well on the all-weather since February and is equally effective on turf. The trip poses no problems for the daughter of King's Theatre and with a good apprentice booked Theatre Lady gets the vote.
