always towards rear, never dangerous
behind, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led early, stayed prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, behind, bumped after 1f, effort over 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened final furlong
soon led, headed over 5f out, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, never trouble leaders
prominent, led over 5f out, clear 2f out, ridden out
in touch, ridden to chase winner 2f out, stayed on
mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
Not an easy race to weigh up but we'll nominate Mutarafaa, Miss Glory Bee and Nite Owl Fizz for the shortlist with Mutarafaa getting the nod. The selection is a course and distance winner, the latest of these victories coming from a mark of 53 in December. Now rated 55, but with a good five-pound claimer on board, he can go well. Miss Glory Bee is also a course and distance winner and, racing from a six-pound lower mark than for a course win over seven furlongs in May 2003, can be given chances also. Nite Owl Fizz is also a course winner, over eight furlongs, and is in fact 11lbs lower in the ratings than for that success, which came in July 2002. A winner of a seller since then, he cannot be ruled out if near his best. Of the others, Hoh's Back has gone off the boil since a Southwell win in October but, being a course and distance winner from a mark of 60, has chances if back to near his best. Welsh Wind has been knocking at the door but has a poor win-to-run ratio. Sting Like A Bee won an amateur event over 8 furlongs last time, but looks opposable overall. A similar comment applies to Air Of Esteem, also a course winner and beginning to approach a more-realistic mark now, while Rare Coincidence comes here in good heart after landing a Southwell seller 10 days ago but, once again, others are preferred. In conclusion, though, in a tricky race, we'll side with Mutarafaa.