tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon led, stayed on well
led, hit 10th, headed 17th, led again 4 out, blundered badly and headed 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace from next
tracked leader, led 17th, headed 4 out, left in lead briefly 3 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, headway 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, headway approaching 15th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, jumped slowly 17th and lost place, soon weakened
held up, not fluent 5th (water) lost touch 5 out
held up, some headway when pecked 4 out, stayed on after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression flat
Gunther McBride gets the vote here with Itsonlyme, Lord Noelie and Cresswell Quay the main dangers. The gelding from the Phillip Hobbs yard has had a couple of runs already this season, will go on the ground and may be able to dominate in this small field. Although he was pulled-up last time in the Hennessy, he looks the class act in this company and will be difficult to beat. Itsonlyme is capable of going well as he is on a handy mark at present and ran well last week when finishing second behind Kelami, but he is not the most consistent and the percentage call is to oppose him. Lord Noelie is well weighted on his best form but he continues to be let down by his jumping at the business end of races and can not be backed with any confidence. Of the rest, Cresswell Quay is improving with each race but he will find this much more competitive than his last win against Secret Drinker, so we are happy to stick with the 8-year-old Gunther McBride.
