towards rear, pushed along and headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
disputed lead until lost place over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, headway to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong
led to over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride and behind, headway on inside over 3f out, effort when not much room over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
chased leaders to over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along 5f out, lost place 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on
raced keenly in mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, no extra final furlong
Mallard is in great form and sets the standard here, but we will take a chance on the Mick Easterby-trained Top Dirham. The selection hails from a shrewd yard and he was the subject of a big gamble when claiming the spoils at Thirsk last season. He is on a handy mark at present and ran well on soft ground behind Harry Potter at Thirsk last time. He will be more suited by this faster surface and with the yard in fair form he is taken to score. Mallard won well at Lingfield last time after disappointing from a bad draw on his previous outing at Hamilton. He has won four of his last five races so has to be respected, but he may just find one too good on this occasion. Hoh's Back has dropped to a handy mark and is always dangerous to dismiss in these type of events, while Encounter travelled well for a long way at Carlisle last time before finding little off the bridle behind Zawrak. This is quite an open contest, but Top Dirham ran encouragingly at Thirsk last time out and could be ready to regain the winning thread.
