hampered start, in touch, soon pushed along, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong
went right start, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, chased leaders, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed and no extra inside final furlong
bumped start, in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, edged left and led briefly inside final furlong, not quickened
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, not much room inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Michael Blanshard's The Trader has the class to take a hand in the finish of this conditions race but may struggle to concede the best part of a stone to the three-year-olds and preference is for Speed Cop, who gets the vote over Manaar. The latter is progressing along the right lines and hails from the in-form Jeremy Noseda stable but needs to improve again to get the better of Speed Cop. Andrew Balding's filly had a good season as a juvenile and, although she has not been seen since finishing down the field behind Airwave at Sandown in May, is likely to be forward enough to beat these in receipt of all the allowances. With Brian Smart's string in such good form at present, Bond Becks has to be respected along with another of the classic generation My American Beauty. Whitbarrow is difficult to recommend on recent evidence so Speed Cop is given the vote in the hope that she is fit enough to do herself justice.
