led or disputed lead, pushed along and outpaced approaching 4 out, ridden next, stayed on and slight lead after 2 out, drew clear flat
led or disuputed lead, went on after 5 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra flat
chased leading pair, outpaced 11th, tailed off from 2 out
To all intents and purposes this is a match between Grattan Lodge and The Kew Tour, with the other pair running for third placed money, and we will side with Grattan Lodge to have the edge. 5lb better than The Kew Tour on official ratings, Howard Johnson's charge is not quite as well in as that suggests, with Sue Smith putting up a useful 7lb claimer on her runner. However, Grattan Lodge has plenty going for him. For a start, he loves the track, with two course wins to his name. He also stays well, but has won over two-and-a-half miles, suggesting that if this turns into a muddling pace he could handle it. With the ground also of no concern and the in-form presence of Graham Lee in the plate he is the choice here. The Kew Tour is surely the one for the forecast however. A thoroughly consistent sort, he has not been out of the frame in four completed starts this term and also stays well. However, he does prefer genuine good ground or faster and the slightly slower ground will make it more difficult here. Lucinda Russell does well here, and that might be enough to suggest that the lightly-raced Duncrevie Gale can make it home in third, but the form choice here has to be Grattan Lodge.
