tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3f out
held up towards rear, headway 4f out to track leaders, ridden 3f out, chased winner one pace approaching final furlong
mid-division, headway approaching 3f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, kept on
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4f out
made all, ridden over 1f out, driven out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out
in touch, headway to chase winner 3f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear and keen, headway 3f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
held up mid-division, weakened over 3f out
held up mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f
with winner and keen, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
The finale is a tricky race for punters to call but Smoothly Does It, Premier Rouge and Desert Hawk look to be the leading contenders with the vote going to Smoothly Does It. The selection won well over this course and distance last time when beating Johannian, and with conditions again to suit he looks more than capable of going in again. Premier Rouge rates the main danger as this gelding from the Ed Vaughan yard remains unexposed and he ran well last time when second behind Pella. If he can improve again then he could run our selection close. Desert Hawk ran as though returning to form when second behind Master Mahogany last time. If he could reproduce that effort here he would not be far away at the finish. However, his overall profile is disappointing and for that reason we will take him on. Fleet Anchor has been running well of late and looks the best of the rest, but for the winner we return to Smoothly Does It.