tracked leaders, not fluent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced
in touch, pushed along after 4 out, one pace when not much room and stumbled after 3 out, one pace after
with leader, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra from 2 out
held up in touch, headway 4 out, led last, pushed out
mistakes in rear, lost touch halfway
mid-division, pushed along halfway, weakened after 4 out
led, hard pressed from 2 out, headed last, one pace run in
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge last, kept on same pace
Hernando's Boy sets the form benchmark here and gets the vote over the likes of Edgehill, Faraway Echo and Winslow Boy. The Keith Reveley-trained selection has been placed in both starts to date, including when second at Perth last time, a race in which Holly Walk finished 16 and a half lengths behind in fifth. That level of form is more than enough to suggest he will play a big part in this race, and the betting for that matter. Having been rated 60 on the Flat and shown some promise in that sphere, Edgehill holds claims but the biggest danger to the selection could come from Winslow Boy, who makes his debut over hurdles and who won over 11 furlongs on the Flat on firm going at Yarmouth in June. Faraway Echo also won on the Flat - on soft going over 12 furlongs at Hamilton - and it is to be hoped that he has learned well from his two hurdling runs to date. Athollbrose and Magical Mimi might prove best of the rest but, for the winner, we return to Hernando's Boy.
