led, headed 3f out soon weakened
close up, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened
in touch, ridden and effort 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
held up in touch, headway to lead over 1f out, driven out
track leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway and effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, no impression final 2f
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway halfway, effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong
towards rear never dangerous
towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home
towards rear, headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, chance inside final furlong, kept on
towards rear never dangerous
Stellite landed a banded stakes race at Ayr last month in good fashion and has to be respected back in a handicap here but a draw in stall one is of some concern and we would rather side with Rocinante, who is preferred to another last time out winner Zhitomir. The last mentioned was dropped into selling company at Catterick last time to open his account this term and, while holding claims on the evidence of that effort, he has yet to fully prove his effectiveness on ground this testing. There are no such problems on that score regarding Rocinante, who won with plenty in hand under testing conditions at Pontefract last month. A 5lb rise for John Quinn's gelding looks perfectly fair and he looks the one to be on. Stablemate Thunderclap, a winner on the all-weather in March, has more to do off his turf rating and of more interest may be Eric Alston's Goodbye Mr Bond, who is consistent and goes on the ground. The David Nicholls-trained Shifty and Linda Perratt's Ayr selling winner Forest Air are others to consider but the vote goes to Rocinante.
