tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
led until hit and headed after 1st, tracked leader, lost place 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace from next
raced keenly towards rear, outpaced 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
towards rear, headway into mid-division 5th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, never on terms
mid-division, lost place 5th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced by 1st two after 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression
mid-division, headway 5th, chased leaders after 3 out, outpaced next
towards rear, hit 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
raced keenly in rear, some headway approaching 3 out, outpaced next, never on terms
soon behind, mistake 4th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders after 5th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders to 5th, soon behind, tailed off from 2 out
always prominent, tracked leader 5th, smooth headway to lead approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well
behind, lost touch 4th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
led after 1st, headed and hung left approaching 2 out, driven and kept on one pace approaching last
Nonrunner
An absolutely dire contest where Strait Talking is a tentative choice to see off the likes of College City, All On My Own and Rockerfella Lad. The selection is back down to a mark of 82 from which he won at Fakenham in the spring of 2003. He has clearly has his problems since then and came back after an 18 month lay-off to run a fair comeback at Newcastle earlier in the month. If he is straighter for that run then with little to beat he may be capable of going in again. College City gives him 6lb, and he has been out of sorts on decent ground of late. However, he has run well here in the past and comes from an in-form yard, so can't be discounted. All On My Own has not gone too badly in a couple of similar contests lately and can be involved again, though he does tend to prefer slower ground, while Rockerfella Lad at least showed a glimmer of hope last time and may be on the cusp of a little bit of form. Even so, Strait Talking is our tentative choice to take a race that won't need much winning.