always behind, tailed off final 3
towards rear, ridden 3 out soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, led after last, kept on and headed towards finish
led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
in touch, took closer order 4th, ridden to lead 2 out, headed after last, weakened flat
towards rear, headway approaching 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on and no impression last
held up in rear, pushed along 3 out, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, ran on to lead towards finish
towards rear, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression
in touch, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, effort 3 out, soon weakened
Not the most inspiring of contests and one in which it may be worth taking a chance of Silver Dagger at a likely price, to overturn favourite Rookery Lad and Nautical. Jonjo O'Neill has only just nicely taken in the former-Irish runner, who has been running on much softer ground in the Emerald Isle. However, he has shown decent form on a sound surface when racing on the level earlier in his career, comes here after a decent enough British debut when he went well enough until tiring and falling two out, and his trainer could well have him primed up to spring a surprise now. Rookery Lad is the likely favourite after a couple of decent efforts in sellers and then being touched off at Stratford on his handicap debut last month. He should again go well but now looks fully exposed. Nautical has steadily improved since switching to hurdles and though he has shown nothing special thus far, few would bet against Martin Pipe's magic starting to rub off here and further improvement is anticipated. Cullen Road and Promising are others to consider, but we will go with Silver Dagger to score.
