slowly into stride, keen, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened
hampered start, held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
edged left start, soon in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway when edging left over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, no impression
held up, never a factor
soon led, headed over 3f out, weakening when hampered over 2f out
held up mid-division, headway 6f out, chased winner from over 1f out, weakened
tracked leaders, led over 3f out, edged left approaching final furlong, driven out
in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened
held up rear, headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, chased winner final furlong, no impression
tracked leaders, weakened over 2f out
This is the right grade for Mount Ephram, who is selected as the one to be on in the seller. With Jamie Osborne's Sonntag Blue preferred over stablemate Savoy Chapel as the biggest danger. Each-way punters could do worse than have a look at Missed Turn, who is put in one her best efforts to date last time and could make the frame today with a similar effort. Savoy Chapel appreciated the drop into this grade last time and it is not beyond his limits to find the improvement to get competitive this afternoon. However, the first time headgear is a worrying sign for him and he may just be in there to help cut out the running for Sonntag Blue, who will have the assistance of bang-in-form Tony Culhane. The Bluebird gelding was not beaten far over a mile at Southwell a little over three weeks ago and can give the selection a few scares along the way if running up to that form. However, Mount Ephram, who is reunited with Paul Hanagan, has a couple of pounds advantage at the weights today, which may be the decisive factor if this goes right down to the wire.
