held up in rear, pushed along and headway 4 out, ridden and effort 2 out, one pace under pressure
in touch, pushed along 8th, ridden to lead 3 out, blundered and headed next, kept on same pace
with leader to 3rd, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
led to 1st, mistake 6th, reminder 8th, ridden and every chance 5 out, weakened next
led 2nd, pushed along 5 out, ridden and headed 3 out, no extra
Reach The Clouds best win came from a mark of 108 two years ago and he's been running solidly from his current mark of 95, although the bulk of his wins have come on easy going. Dene View has won two of his last three races and has risen from a mark of 84 to 93 as a consequence. He is the only course winner in the contest, will be ok with the going and should again run well. Amarettoforanna won at Fakenham in December but is at the top end with regard to what he has achieved on official ratings. Prairie Minstrel put in a good effort to win at Leicester in December from a four-pound lower mark and is entitled to respect at his best. Ulusaba has decent claims at his best and should be fitter after a couple of runs back from a break. Chevalier Bayard's win at Musselburgh from Stone Cold (from a three-pound lower mark) last month looks good after that one ran well at Wetherby on Wednesday. That form was reversed at the same track last time but he is still entitled to consideration in the contest. It is not an easy race to predict with conviction but, with Denis Flavin taking off a useful five pounds, Chevalier Bayard gets the selection.
