mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression
pulled hard in mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, held on well final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, effort 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, headway under pressure 2f out, no extra final furlong
held up in touch, ridden and one pace when not much room 2f out, no impression after
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, pushed along and headway over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leader, led briefly over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
The stables of Reg Hollinshead and Barry Hills have their strings in good order at present so the respective claims of Weet A Head and Devil's Bite have to be merited but we prefer to side with Major Danger despite his defeat at Beverley last time. Sir Mark Prescott's gelding was good value for his three-length win in a nursery at Newcastle in August and was sent off the 4/6 favourite later that month at the Humberside venue on his next start. Although beaten there off a 6lb higher mark, the son of Marju only went down by quarter-of-a-length to Mark Johnston's potentially useful Whispered Promises and, despite another 4lb rise, he looks the one to beat. Recent York second Weet A Head has been raised 5lbs for his length second to Unavailable and may struggle under the burden of 9st 7lb. The Barry Hills-trained Devil's Bite makes his debut in nursery-company and looks well enough treated but is not certain to stay the trip. The Clive Cox-trained Thyolo is less exposed than most but has plenty of weight for what he has achieved, as does Wavertree Dream, who had every chance in a valuable sales race at Newmarket last week on what was admittedly his first run since July. Mark Johnston has a good line to the selection for his representative Woody Valentine but we are happy to side with Major Danger, who makes plenty of appeal.
