slowly away and always in rear
close up in chasing group, kept on under pressure final furlong
chased clear leading pair, ridden to close 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on well
led after 1f, set fast pace and soon well clear, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, one pace after
in mid-division, hard ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
led for 1f, pressed clear leader, ridden along halfway, weakened quickly over 1f out
in rear, effort on inner and hard ridden over 1f out, kept on but never dangerous
prominent in chasing group until weakened halfway
soon ridden in rear, never dangerous
took keen hold, held up, effort and driven 2f out, one pace
prominent in chasing group, hard ridden halfway, no headway from over 1f out
dwelt, held up, headway halfway, stayed on final furlong
Plenty of these have been hard to win with in the past, including the selection, Tayif, who has never been one to recommend as a maximum stakes play. However, Andrew Reid seems to have succeeded were others have failed and this former Ayr Silver Cup winner should make a bold bid to land the hat-trick despite being set to carry a 6lb penalty for his recent exertions. Double M, Nearly A Fool and Attorney have chances at the weights and are all respected in their claims. Torrent has been running well in defeat of late and will spring a surprise again one day. However, it is not too long ago that we were saying the same thing about Tayif and he is very hard to oppose now that he appears to have got his confidence back. The booking of a useful 7lb claimer Steve Donohoe gives Tayif every chance of overcoming his disadvantage at the weights and, assuming that he is in the same frame of mind that has seen him win over course and distance in his last two starts, the top weight is the one to be on for us in the opener.