held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, headway under pressure 2 out, stayed on to chase winner run-in
tracked leader, effort approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last
led, headed approaching 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway 9th, pushed along 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, stayed on strongly
in touch to halfway, soon lost touch
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, headway 3 out, effort approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, led approaching 7th, headed 2 out, no extra approaching last
Once again, this is a competitive race, a real head-scratcher on a very good card of racing at Perth. For what it's worth we will shortlist Magic Combination, Solway Firth, Bergamo, Wee Willow and Caesar's Palace, with the vote going to Solway Firth. Looking at the field. Batoutoftheblue has claims on his 2001 form but has recently been pointing and others are preferred. Course winner Magic Combination is absolutely thrown in on his 2002 form and proved his wellbeing by running well on the Flat recently. The lightly-raced Solway Firth has also won here and is now rated just four-pounds higher in the weights than for that success. With a fair amateur rider booked, he looks set to go well. The runner-up that day, Caesar's Palace reopposes here on one pound better terms for the length he was beaten over that three-furlong longer trip that day. Political Sox is a course and distance winner but has been beaten since his mark was revised. Bergamo is another to be well-handicapped if getting back to somewhere near the level of his 2002 form. The others look to have that crucial three or four pounds to make up before they could be given good chances although, if you factor in his rider's claim, is back to a winning mark. Much as Double You Cubed might be fancied, he is racing from 14lbs out of the handicap and his best recent efforts have been over fences. As we say, it's tricky, but we will plump for Solway Firth.
