always prominent, headway 4 out, led next, headed before 2 out, ridden, one pace approaching last
held up, ridden, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
in rear, outpaced when blundered 4 out, soon pulled up
led, clear until wandered, hit 4 out, headed next, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked clear leader, headway to challenge 3 out, every chance next, kept on until no impression flat
held up, smooth headway 3 out, led before next, drew clear flat, comfortably
Rory Boy is given the vote to break his maiden tag at the second time of asking with both Opening Hand and Maidstone Mixture worth noting. The selection showed very little in two maidens on the flat for Ed Dunlop but on his first outing for his new connections he caught the eye when second to Duke of Touraine at Stratford recently. He should come on for the experience and if doing so he will prove difficult to beat. Opening Hand is another that disappointed on the level but won on his only start over hurdles at Uttoxeter in a sub standard selling juvenile race. Since then he has run poorly on the flat so is clearly only moderate. Maidstone Mixture was a winner over in France over hurdles at Strasbourg in May. Since then though he ran in the Derby at massive odds where he finished last and a more realistic fourth of sixteen at Stratford back over hurdles. He obviously has some ability and cannot be dismissed, but for the winner we return to Rory Boy.
Maidstone Mixture (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Pulled hard, prominent, not fluent 2nd, jumped right 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 16, 18l behind Duke of Touraine (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd.
Opening Hand 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, led just after 2 out, soon swerved left, not fluent last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs beating Owain James (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Abbey Express 66-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next pulled up 2 out in race won by Simarian (10-12) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun, 9 ran.
Bright Falcon 5-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened 3 out, 9th of 11, well behind Tobago Bay (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Elbistan (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Started slowly, behind, headway over 2f out, not pace of leading pair well over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind My Aunt Fanny (8-10) at Chester 1m 2f mdn stk (4) gd in Jun (Flat).
Rory Boy (USA) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd and jumped left 2 out, stayed on flat, not pace of winner, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Duke of Touraine (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd.
