steadied start, held up in mid-division, going well and ridden to lead over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, driven out
held up behind, not much room on rail over 2f out, slightly lost place, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous
prominent, ridden to lead over 3f out, headed over 2f out then weakened
towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders and effort over 1f out, no extra and weakened quickly final furlong
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, took 3rd final furlong and kept on towards finish
raced on outer and took keen hold behind, ridden over 3f out, lost place and in rear over 2f out
led over 3f, stayed prominent, led again over 2f out, soon hung badly left, headed over 1f out, kept on
steadied start, settled in rear, headway on inner 2f out, stayed on, nearest finish
led over 8f out, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened 2f out
prominent, ridden and chased leaders 2f out, no headway over 1f out and weakened
steadied start, held up in rear, stayed on steadily final 2f, never dangerous
Following the lowly opening hors d'oeuvres, we come to the main course of the first of two listed races, with YOUNG MICK our selection, ahead of Les Fazzani and Tropical Strait. Young Mick warmed up for this with a victory at Leicester last time out, his first success in a couple of years. He has previously finished behind a number of today's rivals, but with a month off the track (longer than any of the others) he seems plotted for this. He does have to overcome a low draw, which would be the one negative. Tropical Strait is also a course and distance winner, and being lined up for next year's Ebor. A big priced winner last time out, don't expect anything like the 20 to 1 he was returned at to the winners' enclosure at Doncaster. A switch to Kevin Ryan's yard paid immediate dividends for Les Fazzani, who won for the first time in a year last time out; whether she can repeat that listed success over this slightly longer trip remains to be seen. A repeat of last year's win may be too stiff a task for Dansant, who carries top weight, but will no doubt have some support. It's as competitive as you'd expect, with a marginal preference for Young Mick.
