track leader, hung left 2f out and soon weakened
dwelt, held up mid-division, smooth headway on inside from over 2f out, ran onto lead inside final furlong, readily
keen, held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, pushed along from over 4f out, headway over 1f out, kept on but not pace to challenge
chased leaders, hung left and led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
led, clear over 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
pulled hard, held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, no impression
slowly into stride, in rear, outpaced over 4f out, headway and outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
track leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
Not a bad little handicap and we will take a chance on Double Ransom being able to produce a lifetime best, with Marias Magic and Street Life the ones likely to give him most to do. The selection races off a mark of 65 here, and that is 4lb higher than his lifetime best, but there are reasons for giving him the vote. Firstly, he has had a break and can go well fresh, add to that his ability to handle cut, his positive form this season and the fact that he is proven well enough over the trip and he has a fairly strong case. Marias Magic and Street Life shoulder joint top weight here and the former put himself up as one who could follow up when landing a soft ground 10 furlong maiden at Bath last time. The runner-up has come out and won since then and Mark Johnston will be hopeful of a good performance from the Mtoto filly on her first run for him here. Street Life has much more experience than either of that other pair and is a thoroughly consistent gelding. Willie Musson does well here and the gelding's chance is respected, but despite this being his optimum trip he would probably prefer faster ground. With due respect to Marias Magic, we take Double Ransom, who has plenty of ticks in the right boxes, to score.
