in touch until hampered and lost place over 2f out, headway over 1f out, squeezed through inside final furlong, stayed on to lead final 75yards
mid-division, weakened and well behind final 2f
prominent, ridden to lead just over 1f out, kept on well until headed and not quicken final 75yards, lost 2nd near finish
headway over 2f out, ridden to press leaders entering final furlong, one pace and no impression towards finish
chased leaders, weakened final furlong
led to just over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
chased leaders, ridden along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, soon weakened
pressed leader, led just over 2f out to just over 1f out, no extra final furlong
in touch, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
towards rear when hampered on inner after 1f, slipped through on inner over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
Tayif is the selection over Its Ecco Boy and Night Cap, with Zinging not out of it either. Tayif has been a tough campaigner in his time, and indeed was good enough to land the Ayr Silver Cup for Dandy Nichols in 2001. Since then however, he has found it hard to score, and is now with Andrew Reid, for whom he showed a glimpse of his old self here last week despite missing the break. He has tumbled down the weights, and is worth chancing in the belief that his latest effort was no flash in the pan. Its Ecco Boy has long paid the penalty for some useful juvenile efforts but has had many chances since slipping down the weights. His style of racing suggests that a step up rather than down is needed, and in addition he might just find the Polytrack too fast again. Night Cap is well handicapped on his winning form here last year, and if settled better than he was last time, can be in at the finish along with Zinging, providing that he can handle the drop back in trip. For the winner we return to Tayif.