chased leaders until well over 4f out
took keen hold in mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out
held up, headway on outside well over 2f out, stayed on, never nearer
prominent, every chance well over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up in touch, pushed along and lost place 4f out, stayed on inside final furlong
led until well over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, no extra and lost 2nd well inside final furlong
always towards rear
steadied start, took keen hold, held up, not clear run well over 3f out, hard ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, ridden 6f out, always behind
mid-division, driven along over 4f out, effort over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden and headway over 4f out, stayed on to go 2nd well inside final furlong
always prominent, led well over 2f out, ridden out
held up, never on terms
always behind
chased leaders until over 3f out
A modest contest can go to Oakley Absolute, who gets a tentative vote over Merrymadcap and Golden Gate. The last named is tried in the blinkers for the first time and comes here on the back of a good effort over course and distance last month. His trainer Michael Bell has been very profitable to follow at this course over the last five years and a market move will be very dangerous to ignore. Merrymadcap put in his best effort for some time at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago and shapes as if he is about to strike. Again the market will give us a good gauge as to whether his connections think he can do it today. However, Oakely Absolute had been crying out for a crack at this trip before he ran well in defeat last time out. Richard Hannon's charge already holds experience of the course and he is expected to be hard to beat now that he has proved his stamina for the task in hand.
