tracked leader, reminders 6th, ridden 13th, dropped rear from next, tailed off approaching 5 out
pushed along 13th, outpaced after 5 out, kept on same pace from 3 out to go poor 3rd flat
in touch, ridden and effort 5f out, beaten when mistake 2 out
made all, soon clear, mistake last, unchallenged
mistakes, held up towardsrr, ridden 5 out, no impression
held up in rear, headway 9th, ridden 14th, weakened quickly approaching 5 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, reminders 12th, ridden 4 out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 5 out, weakened approaching next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
Not a strong race by any stretch of the imagination and one in which all the principals have question marks against them. Red Emperor goes particularly well here and his last three victories have come over this course and distance. However, Norman Mason's charge is set to race off 7lb higher than his previous winning mark and his best form has come in more testing conditions. Victoria's Boy would have solid claims on his second behind Harry Hotspur at Huntingdon last month but flopped next time and can't be backed with confidence so the vote goes to Sleepy River. Kate Milligan's veteran rattled up a hat-trick of wins last autumn including over this course and distance. He has failed to sparkle since but has now slipped back down to a most favourable mark being 4lb lower today and, fully effective on the ground, he is taken to bounce back to form.
