missed break, always behind
mid-division, pushed along halfway, headway and effort over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden halfway, no impression
towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, one paced under pressure
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leader, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, effort 2f out, hung left and one paced final furlong
towards rear, brief effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, never dangerous
This is a very tricky opening contest, not least because it is hard to work out what the best draw is, but Seafield Towers bounced back to form last time and is tentatively selected to go one better, while Bundy, Pips Magic, Sharp Hat and Bodfari Pride also come into the reckoning. The selection, trained by Linda Perratt, put up his best performance of the season when second to Victoria Park at Carlisle last time and a reproduction of that performance would be good enough to see him go close here. He finished third off a mark of 73 in a valuable nursery at this course at the end of last season, and is now 11 pounds lower in the ratings, so is potentially well handicapped now. Bundy was a good winner over course and distance last month and would not have liked the extra furlong on his only subsequent start at Doncaster, so he could go close here off just a three pound higher mark. He had Bodfari Pride just over half a length away in third that day, and there should again be little between them here, so Alan Bailey's consistent gelding also comes into the reckoning. Sharp Hat comes here in search of a hat trick having battled on gamely to score narrowly in a claimer at Catterick last time and should not be too far away, while Pip's Magic has the advantage of being ridden by Carol Williams and is very well handicapped so is another to go on the shortlist.