slowly into stride, always behind
jumped left at start and led, pushed along and headed over 1f out, soon behind
hampered at start, never a factor
prominent, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, no impression
towards rear, soon pushed along, some late headway but never near to challenge
jumped right at start and raced wide, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, pushed along halfway, headway and ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
mid-division, soon pushed along, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
A modest contest can go to Skiddaw Wolf, who is preferred over Grand Option, Ashes and Hymn Of Victory. The last named already has a little to find with the selection and has improvement to find; even though he has bits and pieces of form that give him claims today. A similar statement can be leveled at Ashes, whose penultimate Ripon form brings him right into the equation. He showed a good turn of foot before tiring near the finish and left the impression that he has a race within him somewhere along the line. However, a long absence and a poor draw did for him last time up and he now has a little to prove. So too does Grand Option, who showed plenty of early promise but has been regressive of late. Therefore, Skiddaw Wolf looks to be the safest option after a much improved display last time. Brian Smart's charge is related to a multiple winner on the continent along with an early maturing type that struck on its debut for James Given a few years ago. She is obviously nothing out of the ordinary but Skiddaw Wolf has shown enough encouraging signs for her to be given the benefit of the doubt and continue her education with as our idea of the winner here.
