mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened
in touch, ridden approaching 5th, soon lost place, weakened when blundered and rider lost iron 3 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, hit 3rd, mistake 5th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
led to 1st, chased leader, hit 3rd and 4th, ridden after next, weakened when blundered 3 out
held up, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway approaching 4th, chased winner next, not fluent 4 out, ridden next, kept on
behind, ridden 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, never nearer
led 1st, clear 4 out, mistake last, ridden out
Bushido has been a model of consistency recently but looks beatable off his current mark and, unless Earl Sigurd shows improved form, this can go to Athenian Law, who is open to more improvement than most. Although beaten off a 3lb higher mark at Perth last month that was only the third race that the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding has raced in public so there should be more to come and, in a weak race, he gets the vote. With Len Lungo's stable in such good form, Earl Sigurd has to be respected but has shown very little encouragement of late and a bigger danger may be Speed Venture, although a 10lb rise for his recent course and distance victory looks harsh.
