held up in rear, plenty to do 2f out, headway on outside approaching final furlong, ran on inside final furlong but not reached leaders
soon pushed along in touch, hard driven 2f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, pushed along 3f out, headway to chase leaders and squeezed through to lead inside final furlong, ran on until caught final 50 yards
chased leaders over 5f
slowly into stride, soon recovered and in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, ridden and good headway on inside over 1f out, soon switched right, ran on to lead final 50 yards
behind, ridden halfway, soon no chance
raced keenly, soon chased leader to over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
led, pushed 2 lengths clear 2f out, headed and weakened inside final furlong
The vote here goes to Mad ahead of Littleton Zephir and I Wish. Mad seems to be getting his act together now and it is interesting that he drops back to the course and distance, over which he won in December, following two 10-furlong efforts, and looks set to be leading player in this contest. I Wish has been placed off slightly higher marks over six and seven furlongs here and is well worth a try over this longer trip, which he has proven he stays. My Lilli is now three pounds above the mark she won from over course and distance in April but has been very disappointing since. Best Desert has place claims, certainly on the best of his overall form but, in keeping with a number of these, has become disappointing. From just three pounds above a course and distance winning mark, Wanna Shout comes into the reckoning, while Littleton Zephir is also a course and distance winner and, despite having been raised five pounds for that effort, must be given a chance. Furthermore, working on formlines with Piquet, Mad and Littleton Zephir are quite closely weighted and we could see a good race between them, but, on this occasion, we are happy to side with Mad.
