made all, hard pressed from over 1f out and inside final furlong, stayed on strongly under pressure, all out
dwelt, held up and behind, ridden 3f out and weakened over 2f out
tracked winner, ridden 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up mid-division, chased leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and no extra from over 1f out
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out and outpaced, kept on final furlong, never nearer
steady start, pulled hard in rear, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, stayed on not pace to challenge
tracked leaders, chased winner 3f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on, held close home
The consistent Castleshane appears to hold all the aces here ahead of Gallant Boy and Torrid Kentavr. The Steve Gollings inmate has won two of his last three starts, at Chepstow and Ripon and is always a hard horse to pass once he has his head in front. Used to humping big weights over hurdles, topweight here will not bother him, and with trip and ground to suit, it is hard to see him not being involved in the finish. Gallant Boy only gets a pound off the selection, and needs to be covered up so might not get the run of the race. Torrid Kentavr is a course winner and has been coming to hand of late, with a fine second at Beverley. However, that was on soft ground and he is better over the bigger obstacles, indeed he was successful over fences at Perth in June. Take Castleshane to make all.
