made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on
prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
keen, in touch, lost place over 4f out, soon behind
slowly into stride, always towards rear
keen, in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out
prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
in touch, headway, switched right over 1f out, ridden and every chance when edged left inside final furlong, held towards finish
Perhaps this isn't quite such a quality event as those that have preceded it but as Classified events go this is a decent contest and we take Grey Clouds to come out on top, with Barking Mad and Ben Hur the dangers. Ben Hur has been well placed to win those contests by Mark Brisbourne but had his limitations exposed when beaten into fifth in an Epsom claimer last time. He likes to dictate matters but was pestered for the lead at Epsom and paid the price. Perhaps his winning run has ended for a little while. Barking Mad has good form credentials, having run Luca Cumani's Kuster to three lengths at Windsor and was earlier a good third in a good quality handicap also at Windsor. He has sound claims but is up against a better than average performer in Grey Clouds. Beaten into third at Newmarket behind the prolific Polar Jem he had previously been a good winner at Pontefract and only narrowly beaten at Beverley after that. He could be too good for the opposition receiving weight all round, and comes from a stable in form. Grey Clouds gets the vote.
