not fluent, with leader, lost place 4th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and no impression from 3 out
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened 3 out
made all, ridden approaching 3 out, clear last, kept on
chased winner from 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, stayed on from 2 out, not trouble leaders
held up, headway when not fluent 6th, soon beaten
held up, headway on inside approaching 6th, ridden and one pace from 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened next
held up, smooth headway after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last
Scratch The Dove should now be spot on for this mares' only contest and is the choice to beat Fragrant Rose, with Comete du Lac and French Mannequin best of the rest. Scratch The Dove is yet another product of the female line that has served the Price family so well, but so far has just the one success to her name, at Leicester two years ago. She has shown enough on her last two outings to suggest that she will shortly add to that, and it is interesting that Tony McCoy rides again after sitting on her for the first time when second at Exeter three weeks ago. She made Researcher pull out all the stops that day, and although a longer trip would not go amiss, Scratch The Dove should still prove the one to beat. French Mannequin is only slightly better off at the weights with the selection and appears held, but Fragrant Rose could be a stumbling block. Her welter burden is negated by the claim of Sam Thomas and she too should be ready to run well after a couple of outings this term. Comete du Lac gained her first victory since coming over from France when landing a moderate affair at Chepstow last time and has more to do, while Iambe de La See is best watched in the market, given his legion of supporters in the Elite Racing Club. Scratch The Dove is sure to go well and will not go down without a fight under the champion.
