towards rear, effort and not clear run over 2f out, stayed on and hampered over 1f out, not recovered
chased leaders, was ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
chased leader, led halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on
in touch, ridden 2f out, one pace till weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, headway 2f out, ran on final furlong
soon led, headed halfway, one pace until weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, switched right over 1f out, ran on final furlong
chased leaders to halfway
dwelt, towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, raced wide over 2f out, soon beaten
never better than mid-division
In a fiendishly difficult sprint handicap, Johnston's Diamond is fancied to take advantage of his low draw to put behind him a disappointing run in the Ayr Silver Cup; there are many others to consider, without any really standing out, but Caribbean Coral and College Queen would rate high on the shortlist. The latter gives the suspicion that she may be in the handicapper's grip after her wins at Folkestone and Nottingham last month, but Steve Gollings' mare loves to bounce out in front and should run well from stall five. Caribbean Coral is without doubt on a good mark, just a pound higher than when winning a decent race at Sandown in June. However, Chris Wall's topweight has an uncanny knack of finding trouble and it is hard to envisage him finding a trouble-free passage in this race. Eric Alston has a fair record at this track, and of the two he saddles here, we like the look of Johnston's Diamond, drawn in stall 2 and ridden by Dean McKeown. This five-year-old landed the odds in a competitive handicap at Newcastle in July, and was then made joint favourite for last Friday's Ayr Silver Cup, when he ran better than his finishing position would suggest. He seems to handle any ground, and although this trip is a slight worry, he appeals more than most here so Johnston's Diamond is a tentative selection in a very tricky race.