tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, no impression
mid-division, effort over 5f out, soon ridden and weakened over 2f
held up towards rear, badly hampered over 2f out, not recovered
towards rear, ridden over 4f out, some headway until one pace over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, weakening when badly hampered over 2f out and not recovered
led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, just held
held up, not much room over 2f out, soon ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong and soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 3f out, never dangerous
Grampian will be all the better for a recent pipe-opener and can land this Listed prize, with Legal Approach, Fight Your Corner, Sun Bird and Morson Boy all expected to run well. The feature event on the Hamilton card has attracted a decent field, and really any of those mentioned could come out on top, but James Given is hopeful that Grampian will be up to the task after his comeback effort behind Putra Sandhurst at Ripon. The son of Selkirk has been hard to get right, and missed the whole of last year, so it is to be hoped that he stays sound as he has plenty of ability judged on his limited efforts against useful company in 2002. The Ebor is the target and with the ground in his favour, he can begin to stamp his claims by winning here. Mark Johnston is double-handed with Morson Boy and Legal Approach, and preference is for the latter who raced too keenly behind the selection at Ripon. He handled soft ground when scoring at Ascot as a juvenile, and should finish closer with more restraint. Ex Johnston inmate Fight Your Corner represents Godolphin and has a touch of class, but may need the run, while Sun Bird was good enough to win Haydock's Old Newton Cup two years ago, but is better on faster ground. Bonecrusher ran a blinder in the City and Suburban when touched off under topweight, but this company is a bit hotter, and Grampian can make up for lost time by landing the spoils.