towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, effort when not much room over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
tracked leader, led after 2f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, ran to lead well inside final furlong, kept on
steadied at start, held up in rear, ridden along 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest at finish
led, headed after 2f, remained in touch, driven over 1f out, had every chance entering final furlong, kept on same pace
started very slowly, virtually refused to race
prominent, led 3f out, driven over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra close home
in touch, ridden along 3f out, soon beaten
Billy One Punch ran creditably at Newmarket recently and has to be considered but Derek Shaw's gelding seems a shade high in the weights at present and it may be worth taking a chance with Riley Boys, who gets the vote over Motu. The last mentioned ended last season in good form and has not been too harshly treated by the handicapper so has to be respected, if fit enough for his return. Myfrenchconnection is entitled to come on for his reappearance run here earlier this month but needs to, while Shotley Mac was knocking on the door at the end of last season but has harshly been raised 3lbs since then and may now be best watched. Motu is another that was in good form when last seen and he makes more appeal than stable companion Kingsholm but the vote goes to Riley Boys. The selection comes form the in-form yard of James Given so lack of a recent run need not be of concern and, off what seems a fair mark, he looks worth chancing.
Riley Boys (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Always rear division, 13th of 15, 8l behind Sforzando (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Nov.
Motu (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) In touch, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, every chance inside last, kept on, 2nd of 16, nk behind Just Lille (11-2) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May '07.
Billy One Punch 14-1 (8-12) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway over 2f out, switched left and effort over 1f out, not pace to challenge, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Sir Duke (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Kingsholm 20-1 (8-9) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, not much room approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace, 9th of 17, 7l behind Osteopathic Remedy (8-12) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Shotley Mac 8-1 (8-5) Led, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, kept on, headed post, 2nd of 14, shd behind King's Bastion (9-4) at Redcar 7f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Bolton Hall (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Always rear, 15th of 17, 10l behind Osteopathic Remedy (8-12) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Myfrenchconnection (IRE) 17-2 (9-4) With leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 16, 7l behind Paraguay (8-13) at Beverley 1m hcap (6) gf.
Medici Pearl 50-1 (8-6) In touch, weakened over 2f out, 15th of 21, 13l behind Gunfighter (8-13) at Doncaster 7f app hcp (4) gf in Nov.
