held up towards rear, good headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, switched right and soon led 2f out, clear 1f out, edged left and idled inside final furlong, pushed out
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, kept on well inside final furlong
led for 1f, tracked leaders, led briefly just over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
in touch and effort 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden 3f out, stayed on well final furlong
behind, headway on outer 3f out, stayed on, not reach leaders
track leaders, weakening when hampered 2f out
slowly into stride, behind, kept on same pace 3f out, never on terms
led, ridden and headed when hampered 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace
dwelt, behind and never on terms
always towards rear
A difficult opener featuring a number of improving three-year-olds and a tentative vote goes to Gala Sunday while the Mark Johnston pair of Nuit Sombre and Greta d'Argent as well as Foodbroker Founder and Tiber are others to consider. Barry Hills has his team in excellent order at present following a quiet spell and Gala Sunday has the profile of a most progressive individual. The son of Lear Fan easily landed his maiden on his seasonal reappearance before being narrowly denied by a smart rival in a Epsom conditions event. The selection demonstrated his well being when a convincing winner of a similar event at Hamilton last time and doesn't appear harshly treated for his handicap debut. Nuit Sombre has proved a tough performer landing back-to-back handicaps at Ripon and Sandown but his latest start suggests he may now be in the handicapper's grip. Stable mate Greta d'Argent has been raised 7lb for landing an uncompetitive heat at Doncaster last time and could also struggle while Tiber has been a model of consistency but is unproven on rain-softened ground. Foodbroker Founder has strong claims if reproducing the form of his Royal Ascot second in Listed company but was well below his best last time so Gala Sunday, who may have more improvement to come, is taken to come out on top.