held up, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong
tracked winner and keen, ridden over 1f out, kept on
slowly into stride, soon chasing winner, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
chased winner, ridden over 1f out, kept on
Spliff has enough scope to beat Forzenuff who has had enough chances, while Rowan Applause is going the right way and is worth a mention. Spliff, from the Airwave stable of Henry Candy, has been absent since giving Nyramba a race at Salisbury in May, and in the interim, the latter has improved no end, beating Ruby Rocket at the Wiltshire track before boosting the form further when landing the Watership Down Stud Sales Stakes at Ascot last week. Although Spliff will come on for this return to action, he is the one with the form in the book. Many will fancy Forzenuff here with Frankie Dettori booked to ride, and on the strength of a fair effort when fifth at Ripon, the form of which has already been franked by the second, Philharmonic. However, the fact remains that he was a beaten favourite at the Yorkshire track, the only excuse being that he was on the stands side, with the outcome decided by those on the far rail. In addition, he has to concede five pounds to William Haggas's filly Rowan Applause who should also be involved. Like Spliff, a progeny of Royal Applause, she is a half-sister to three winners, and shaped very well on her Beverley debut when a close fourth in similar company to this. In what is the first of many small fields on the day at Bath, Spliff can draw at decent odds.
