tracked leaders until lost place 4th, driven along 7th, 4th and no chance last
held up, headway 4 out, chased winner from next, weakened 2 out
held up in touch, smooth headway after 3 out, tracked winner going well 2 out, ridden and not run on run in
led after 2nd to 3 out, weakened rapidly and pulled up before next
always prominent, led 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, driven out run in
in touch until weakened 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders 2nd to 7th, stayed close up, ridden 3 out, challenged next, weakened before last
Count Tony has been a revelation this season and can gain his fourth successive win, with Goldbrook and Anatar seen as his biggest dangers. The Peter Bowen-trained 10-year-old has been raised 31lbs during that winning run but, judging by the way he disposed of his rivals at Kempton last time, he might be up to scoring again. He has in fact won from today's rating. Goldbrook comes here seeking a three-timer and, while the bare form of his latest success is nothing exceptional, he will appreciate the step up in trip and can go well again. Anatar has won three of his last seven races - one of them coming over today's course and distance - and is now back to a mark that he has won from. Carlovent is not as good as he once was and might find two or three too good for him again. It is hard to know what to make of Immola's Sandown victory in March, but we are prepared to take a softer view than the handicapper has done, while Sonevafushi is finding it more difficult to win from his current rating. Grave Doubts rattled up a four-timer in the autumn of 2002 but is 16lbs higher in the ratings now than for the latest of them. This all leads us back to Count Tony, who might just be able to score again.
