pulled hard, chased winner to over 2f out, weakened rapidly and eased
held up in 6th but well in touch, pushed along 3f out, switched left to outside over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged right final furlong, ran on well
slowly into stride, held up, headway on outside over 3f out, hard ridden 2f out, soon weakened
led and set steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, headway 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
close up in 4th, ridden and not quicken 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no impression winner
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed and not quicken over 1f out
Seven runners are set to face the starter for this Derby trial with preference for Amanda Perrett's Westmoreland Road ahead of Piano Star and Inch Again. The selection has shown improved form this term with wins at Newbury and Newmarket, latterly when beating Calibre by seven lengths in a conditions race. With more improvement to come, he looks the one to be on. Sir Michael Stoute's Piano Star made his debut in the Chester maiden won by Ocean Silk and should be suited by the step up in trip here. He has to be respected, as does the Mark Tompkins-trained Inch Again, who ran respectably when narrowly beaten in Sandown's classic trial last time and is more battle-hardened than some of his opponents. Hilbre Island is becoming frustrating and is difficult to recommend and a bigger threat to the selection could be Unigold, for who Ed Dunlop has secured the services of Kieren Fallon.
