held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f
prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not quickened final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, driven out final furlong
held up towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden and weakened 1f out
held up in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, one pace final furlong
keen in rear, ridden over 2f out, not quickened
in touch until ridden and weakened 4f out
We give the vote here to Smart John, with Frontier, Rebate and Billy Bathwick rated as his biggest dangers. The selection looked to be on the upgrade when scoring at Haydock last time and raised only four pounds for that win, can go well again. He looks the type to progress now and his trainer is adept at utilising what turn out to be very good handicap marks. French winner Sahaat has yet to transfer anything like that form to England. Frontier scrambled home at Chester last time and is now rated three pounds higher so might be worth opposing. A similar comment applies to Realism, who was slaughtered by the in-form Tidal over course and distance last time. Billy Bathwick is three pounds better off for the half-length he was beaten by him on that occasion. Rebate is now rated nine pounds lower than when scoring at Goodwood last summer but showed a glimmer of hope on his latest outing, although he is not blessed with gear changes. Wood Street has winning form from an eight-pound higher mark in 2002 but has shown little of late, although cheekpieces are fitted today. Zuletta seemed to improve on the all-weather on her latest start but more is still required today. Once again then, Smart John looks the one to be on.