in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out
in touch throughout, ridden and one pace from final furlong
held up in touch, led on bit just inside final furlong, soon quickened clear
tracked leader till led 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, soon one pace
prominent until ridden and weakened quickly over 2f out
led till ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
always towards rear
slowly into stride, raced in rear, some headway 3f out but never dangerous
mid-division for 3f, soon behind
slowly into stride, raced in rear
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, behind till ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, hung badly left 3f out, raced alone for final 3f, weakened 1f out
A difficult start to the day's action with several unexposed types in opposition including Richard Hannon's pair Veneer and He's A Star plus Mick Channon's Al Garhoud Bridge but the vote goes to Shaheer. The selection stepped up on his debut effort when chasing home Aastral Magic from a bad draw at Kempton last month and, under Darryll Holland, he is taken to go one better today. Veneer has shown signs of ability in two starts and may improve for the step up from the minimum, while stablemate He's A Star appeals on pedigree although is bred to appreciate even further. Al Garhoud Bridge drops in class and is entitled to improve for his racecourse debut run in a better contest than this at Newbury. Sylvester Kirk has his string in good form at present so Don Pele has to be respected, along with Fulke Johnson Houghton's Amphitheatre, who showed plenty of promise on his Haydock debut. With Andrew Balding's Holbeck Ghyll likely to need the outing, Henry Candy's Caesar Beware makes most appeal among the newcomers but it is Shaheer who gets the vote.
