tracked leaders, led 8f out, ridden over 3f out, headed and weakened approaching 2f out
held up mid-division, headway 8f out, ridden and weakened 3f out
held up towards rear, headway 7f out, soon ridden, plugged on
held up in touch, headway 8f out, ridden and every chance 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 4f out, stayed on
held up towards rear, headway 7f out, ridden 4f out, weakened
mid-division, no chance from over 5f out
held up in touch, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 4f out, weakened
led, headed after 5f, led again over 9f out, headed 8f out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden 4f out, no impression and eased
held up, headway 7f out, stayed on from over 1f out to chase clear winner final furlong
tracked leader, led after 5f, ridden 10f out, headed and weakened 9f out
in touch, ridden and weakened 6f out
Those with course and distance form such as Moonshine Beach and Kaluana Court are musts for the short list here, while Riyadh and Henry Island are others to note, and we will side with the latter, who can win for the first time in over a year. The selection is proven at this trip, having taken a two mile handicap on fast ground at Warwick in August last year off a mark of 64. Now 7lb below that he has a 6lb pull with Moonshine Beach for finishing half-a-length second to that rival back at Warwick on his penultimate start. Admittedly, you have to forgive him a stinker at Chepstow last time if you are prepared to put the money down, but he looks to have a clear chance at these weights and we will take a chance on him. Moonshine Beach heads the weights and he too put in a poor run last time out at Goodwood after having won back to back two mile contests. If he is back to form then he should be thereabouts but that 6lb reversal at the weights with the selection make him opposable. Kaluana Court goes well here and has been in cracking form, but he will find it hard from a mark 6lb higher than his Newmarket win in July and may have to settle for the minors, while Riyadh is eminently capable of winning a race at this level on his old form, though he just does not seem to be able to see out his effort these days. So our vote here goes to Henry Island.