tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon challenged, led entering final furlong, soon hung left, kept on close home
driven to in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression
behind, soon outpaced, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace
behind, beaten from 2f out
soon led, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on after
This is not a race to get too heavily involved in with more than half of the field having raced just once previously so a tentative vote goes to Lady Hopeful, who is preferred to Young Thomas and Victory Hymn. The last mentioned was well beaten on her Goodwood debut but most of Mick Channon's juveniles have improved for their first start and this is a weaker contest. Similar comments apply to Michael Bell's Young Thomas, who appeals more than the other runners to have raced just once, Bust and Cava Bien. Alan Berry's Black Combe Lady has given little sign of encouragement in two outings to date and a bigger threat may come from Mount Ephram. Roger Fisher's gelding was not beaten far on his first start over seven furlongs at Redcar recently but that was in a seller and this represents a step up in class. The vote then goes to Lady Hopeful. Bobby Elliott's filly looked as though she would appreciate a step up in trip when not beaten far in a couple of five furlong maidens last month and confirmed that view when a creditable second over the trip on the all-weather at Southwell recently. Badly drawn there, Lady Hopeful has no such problems today and is the form choice.
