towards rear, pushed along halfway, stayed on same pace final 2f
in touch, good headway to lead 1f out, soon clear
towards rear, headway and effort 2f out, stayed on, no chance with winner
led, headed 1f out, no extra final furlong
in touch, weakened halfway
prominent, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, one pace under pressure
prominent, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
Orphan posted a good effort on his seasonal reappearance, and will be a popular choice ahead of Mitchelland, Robinzal and Colonial Girl. Karl Burke is double-handed here, but Orphan looks by far the one to be on after his short-head second to Bold Haze at Ripon last week. That was the gelding's first run in a handicap, and he acquitted himself well, held up just off the pace before failing by a whisker to overhaul the winner. That was a big improvement on anything that he had shown as a two-year-old, and a similar run here should suffice. Mitchelland was fourth in last year's Brocklesby and went on to beat the odds-on Bibury Flyer over five furlongs on this track. She seemed to go downhill afterwards though, and her win in an all-weather nursery at Wolverhampton was nothing special. However, she was not disgraced at the weights on her return to Turf at Haydock, and may be about to recapture her form, so rates the main danger. Robinzal was behind the selection at Ripon and despite being slightly better off should still be held, while her stablemate Colonial Girl has topweight and was stone last in maiden company last time. All in all, Orphan sets the standard and is very much the one to be on.
Colonial Girl (IRE) 12-1 Dwelt, always behind, last of 11, 25l behind Namir at Thirsk 5f 3yo mdn sft in Apr.
Orphan (IRE) 25-1 Took keen hold behind leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 19, shd behind Bold Haze at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp sft in Apr.
Mitchelland 20-1 Dwelt, behind, ridden and headway when edged right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 8, 9l behind Zoom Zoom at Haydock 6f stk sft in Apr.
Robinzal 40-1 Prominent, every chance when hampered approaching final furlong, no extra inside, 5th of 19, 3l behind Bold Haze at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp sft in Apr.
Strathtay 12-1 In touch stands' side, effort over 2f out, never dangerous, 11th of 19, 12l behind Bold Haze at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp sft in Apr.
Blazing View (USA) 33-1 Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 16, 32l behind Venetian Lullaby at Newcastle 1m mdn fll sft in Apr.
Daisy Pooter (IRE) 16-1 Never better then mid-division, 8th of 14, 10l behind Ashes at Catterick 5f 3yo hcp gd in Apr.
Balgarth (USA) 16-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon beaten, 7th of 14, 11l behind Matsunosuke at Catterick 6f mdn stk gd in Apr.