always behind
smooth headway over 3f out, ridden and led over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final
tracked leader, led 7f out, ridden over 3f out, headed over 1f out, led again inside final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened halfway
held up, headway and ridden over 3f out, soon one pace
led, ridden halfway, soon headed and beaten
held up, chased leaders 3f out, ridden and soon one pace
Jack Dawson took this event twelve months ago and is the TEAMtalk choice to stage a repeat. John Berry's charge remains on a fair mark despite having registered back-to-back victories at Hamilton and over course and distance earlier in the season and is always hard to beat at this level on his favoured fast ground. The five-year-old comes here having bolted up in a Southwell novice hurdle earlier in the month and his useful turn of foot should prove a potent weapon once again. Gargoyle Girl has proved most progressive this term having won four times and, despite rising sharply in the weights, looks the main danger following an unlucky-in-running third in a 1m5f handicap at Ayr last week. Ocean Tide has had a near three-month break since disappointing at Chester in July but would have claims on previous form although would perhaps ideally be suited by more ease in the ground and has something to prove.