tracked leaders, headway to lead 4f out, joined over 2f out, stayed on strongly
towards rear, headway under pressure over 3f out, no extra approaching final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 4f out, headway to dispute lead over 2f out, dead heated post
missed break, towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, one pace final 2f
tracked leader, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
The dependable Benbyas can bring up a straight hat-trick of wins in this contest, with Rasid and, possibly, Come What July seen as his biggest dangers. Although the latest of the selection's wins was gained from a mark of just 65, he comes here in very good heart, has a very good seven-pound claimer in the plate and has proven that he acts on testing going. Rasid rates an obvious danger. He too acts on soft and has a comparable rating to the selection. There should not be too much between them at the finish. Turning to the others. Newcorp Lad won twice on good and good to firm last summer but is unproven at today's trip, while the former Mick Channon-trained Jimmy Byrne showed signs of a return to form last time but might be better on faster going. Konker is the sole course and distance winner in the line-up and has a fairly recent win over hurdles to his name, even though he has not been seen too much on the Flat over the last couple of years. If at his best, he cannot be totally discounted and Come What July is certainly not out of things if transferring her fair Polytrack form to Turf. Overall, then, it is an interesting race, and one in which we will side with Benbyas.
