close up, ridden and went 3rd over 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden out
in touch, ridden 4 out, one pace final 2f
led, ridden 4f out, headed 2f out, one pace
Not much to split Swagger Stick, Yoksha and Vantage on the terms of the race but the first-named has a pedigree that suggests he will start to flourish as a three-year-old and is fancied to cope with his first try at a mile and a half with aplomb. Whereas Rock Lobster and Nessum Dorma both have a little to prove in this company and are not hard to overlook today. Therefore, the trio at the top of the racecard are the ones to concentrate on here. Yoksha has plenty of stamina in his pedigree and could give the selection plenty to think about if he is not done for toe. While Vantage is one to monitor in the betting as he has yet to prove himself on ground this soft. Which brings us back to Swagger Stick, whose course defeat of Hazeyview looks solid in the context of this race. The Cozzene colt has not done anything to suggest this distance will be beyond him and, with ground conditions very much in his favour, Swagger Stick is taken to run the finish out of his rivals when they bear down on the line.
