towards rear when carried wide first bend, headway on outside over 2f out, led approaching 1f out, ran on well
slowly into stride, always behind
tracked leader, led approaching 2f out, ridden and headed just over 1f out, weakened close home
in touch, ridden over 3f out, one pace final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and headway inside final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, ran on well final furlong to go second close home
prominent until ridden and weakened over 2f out
short of room on first bend, soon in rear
led until ridden and headed just over 2f out, soon weakened
Atlantic Viking is no spring chicken but can still play a part in this modest contest, however Trick Cyclist was most impressive last time and is taken to follow up from Byo. Andrew Balding's three-year-old was eased to a mark of 72 for a Brighton classified event last week and took full advantage, easily brushing aside his rivals for a comfortable victory. The opposition today are a good deal stronger, but he should be up to the task. On official ratings Atlantic Viking has obvious claims. The David Nichols trained gelding finished just five lengths behind Baltic King in a hot handicap at Ascot last time off a rating of 93, a repeat of that running would put him right in the firing line here. Byo continues in good form, he finished a close up third behind Taboor in a competitive handicap at Brighton last time and looks sure to be in the shake up. Of the others Melody King has shown bits and pieces of form and could run into a place, however Trick Cyclist won with something in hand last time and he could be ready to run up a sequence.