led, headed 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon held
held up rear, steady headway from 6th, led on bit 2 out, shaken up approaching last, ran on well
with leader, quickened up to lead approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, headed approaching 2 out and weakened
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out
always in the rear, lost touch 4 out, pulled up 2 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4th, pulled up 2 out
mid-division, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out
always in rear, lost touch 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, lost place after 3rd, behind when pecked 6th, pulled up before 2 out
The vote here goes to Only Vintage ahead of Lord Buckingham, Good Citizen, Cimmaroon and Quid Pro Quo. Having won a decent novice event at Newbury last time, Only Vintage can continue to build on that and looks to hold pretty good claims in a fair novices' event. Lord Buckingham has shown fair enough form in winning at Wincanton and being placed at Exeter and could represent a fair benchmark as to the value of today's form. Good Citizen's third to Chilling Place on his racecourse debut rates as a decent effort, and it will be interesting to see how Cimmaroon comes on for his Newbury hurdling effort behind the impressive Olaso. Quid Pro Quo's two hurdling efforts to date are also solid, so have him on the shortlist too, while after looking reasonable in bumpers, Big Bone's hurling debut was disappointing. Of the others, Mikado Melody has shown shown some bumper promise and ought to be capable of better, as should the lightly-raced but injury-prone Le Grand Rocher. Overall, though, we are happy enough to side with Only Vintage.
