held up in touch, pushed along 4 out, driven and effort next, kept on one pace from 2 out
led, headed after 4 out, effort and chance next, one pace and held when mistake last
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 4 out, ridden and outpaced next
in touch, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, rallied 2 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on same pace
prominent to halfway, soon behind
prominent to halfway, soon weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway 3rd, led after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway halfway, effort 3 out, soon led, headed approaching last, no extra flat
raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, hung right and challenged 2 out, soon led, driven out
This is an uninspiring affair considering that it is the day's showcase race, and a line can be safely put through most of them. That includes most in the bottom half of the handicap bar Bodfari Signet who is a course winner and who had both Shalbeblue and Khan Kicker well behind when fifth here last time. He really must have fast ground to be seen at his best so would not have been entirely happy with underfoot conditions. He gets in here with a fighting chance against the likes of Rising Generation, pulled up over fences at Ayr, and Chaos Theory, who has gone right off the boil since jumping well and making all here in December 2001. He looks a bit better handicapped over hurdles than he used to, but until he shows that he is ready to score again, we prefer Bodfari Signet.
