towards rear, hard ridden and headway over 1f out, not reach leaders
soon led, headed over 5f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer
held up in touch, ridden and lost place 4f out, switched right over 3f out, effort over 2f out, soon one pace
slowly into stride, soon close up, ridden and no impression 2f out until staying on under pressure when not clear run inside final furlong
close up, ridden 4f out, weakened well over 1f out
raced wide, mid-division, headway in every chance over 2f out, still one pace
held up, lost place 4f out, switched right over 3f out, effort 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, raced in rear, headway approaching 2f out, ridden, edged left and led well inside final furlong
with leader, led over 5f out, ridden and headed and no extra inside final furlong
raced wide, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out
held up in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
keen, in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
Plenty of professional losers on view but Diamond Orchid takes a significant drop in class vis-a-vis her juvenile form and we will take her against Chocolate Boy, Montosari and Forest Heath. David Evans team are in good form at the moment and while the surface is something of an imponderable, it is worth noting that at this stage last year, Diamond Orchid was racing off a handicap mark some 36lbs higher than today. A fair third to Rosti at Southwell, if she takes to the surface, she must take the beating. Chocolate Boy is another to hail from an in-form yard. The five-year-old is significantly hiked in trip after near misses over eight and twelve furlongs and is prone to miss the kick. Forest Heath should strip fitter for a reappearance bow and has leading all-weather pilot Jimmy Quinn doing the steering. Free Style is a course and distance winner who should be respected if the money is down while Montosari won well here in a similar contest over 1m5f but could be better drawn. Diamond Orchid is recommended in a tricky opener.