mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression
tracked leader, smooth headway to lead 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, smooth headway and every chance entering final furlong, soon ridden and no extra inside
stumbled start in mid-division, outpaced halfway, ridden over 4f out, beaten over 2f out
held up, outpaced over 4f out, soon ridden, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, soon one pace
led, ridden over 3f out, headed 2f out and soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, headway to lead over 2f out, soon headed and weakened
held up, ridden over 3f out, stuck on well to lead over 1f out and kept on inside
We will side with Archirondel here, his biggest dangers possibly being Shalbeblue, Platinum Charmer and Little Task. Minivet is well weighted on his 1999 Flat form but is principally known as a hurdler these days, in which sphere he has won nine times. Platinum Charmer was possibly flattered when scoring over course and distance in May as the race was run at a false pace and he has been put in his place since. Archirondel was sent off as favourite for his last race, over a mile at Leicester, but disappointed. He is stepped up to 12 furlongs today, but has never won beyond 10. He'd be well handicapped on the basis of his Beverley 2002 winning form and comes here in good heart after having won on fast going at Redcar earlier in the month. Shalbeblue is a course and distance winner, that success being achieved from an eight-pound lower mark in this race last year. He will need to step on his first two runs of this season but connections have probably had this race in mind. Smarter Charter will have to turn back the clock to score, a similar comment applying to Moyne Pleasure, while Hibernate's course and distance win was achieved in 2001. Little Task's Nottingham win was achieved from a mark of 30, and he's now rated 34, but he ran pretty well in a Lady Amateur Riders event last time and is not without a chance here. All things considered, though, we are happy to side with Archirondel.