led, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on flat
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, switched right flat, ran on to lead close home
in touch, headway approaching 5th, ridden to lead approaching last, headed and no extra close home
in touch, headway approaching 5th, ridden and every chance when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, not fluent and lost place 4th, weakened 3 out
held up, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up and keen, headway 3rd, hard ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
Despite the lack of numbers this is quite a tight contest. Front-runner French Mannequin could be difficult to peg back around here if she is allowed a free role up front, while others to consider include old-timer Drakestone, who bounced back to winning ways here last month and the mare Hamadeenah, who will be well suited to the fast ground, and she gets the vote. A winner on the flat as a juvenile, she has won three of her 13 outings over timber, all on fast ground, a fair strike rate for one of her ability. She takes a drop in class here and will be difficult to beat. French Mannequin has been well placed to win a couple of moderate contests, but has been done no favours here by the rising of the weights. However, she has a useful claimer taking 5lbs off her back and cannot be discounted. Dual-course winner Drakestone still retains his enthusiasm, despite his advancing years, but it will be something of a surprise if he is able to contain his younger rivals in this, on these terms.
