tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, faded inside final furlong
always behind, weakened well over 2f out
held up towards rear, headway well over 3f out, soon ridden, ran on well to lead inside final furlong
held up and keen, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
in touch, headway to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
stumbled badly start, always well behind
always behind
led, ridden and headed over 3f out, went badly right and quickly weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, kept on well towards finish
in touch and keen, lost place over 5f out
tracked leader, led over 3f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, ran on well towards finish
prominent, ridden over 3f out, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
This may not be as competitive a contest as the numbers suggest with several of the likely market leaders, including the likes of Etesaal, Blythe Knight, Greta d'Argent and Camille Pissarro, having been done few favours with the draw and the selection is Dalaram. Sir Michael Stoute's colt steps into handicap company for the first time and steps up in trip but, being a full-brother to the high class Daliapour, there should be more to come. A rating of 84 seems fair given the anticipated improvement and, from stall nine, the son of Sadler's Wells is taken to open his account. Wolverhampton maiden winner Etesaal has a dreadful draw in stall 15, while Blythe Knight (11), Camille Pissarro (14) and Greta d'Argent (13), who all have claims on their recent form, are difficult to recommend from their outside draws. Dhabyan is entitled to improve on his second start of the campaign but Ben Hanbury's horses are still not firing on all cylinders so a bigger danger to the selection may come from Don Eddy's Dunaskin, who comes here on the back of wins in handicaps at Ripon and Beverley and, although up further in the weights today, is clearly progressing and is well drawn. However, Stoute's horse may have too much class for the rest and is taken to land the opener.
