slowly away, in rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened final 2f
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, just held on close home
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up towards rear, headway 5f out, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
keen, held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, just held close home
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Opportune could be interesting on his first start for Mark Brisbourne since winning a handicap at Chepstow in August 2003 but the son of Shirley Heights faces no easy task against the in-form Feed The Meter, who is taken to make it four from his last five, with Considine and Stallone rated the pick of the remainder. The selection is turned out again quickly after his latest success at Windsor on Monday evening when, despite racing wide throughout, he still won with plenty in hand and should be more than up to defying a 6lb penalty. Top weight Charlotte Vale drops back in trip having failed to stay 1m6f at Yarmouth last time and has to be respected along with Paul Howling's Considine, for who the booking of Johnny Murtagh takes the eye. Stallone has been given a break since a light campaign on the all-weather and has claims at the weights but Feed The Meter is in the form of his life at present and is hard to oppose.
Stallone 7-2 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 10l behind Serbelloni (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp (E3) pol in Jan.
Feed The Meter (IRE) 7-4fav (9-2) Held up in mid-division, good headway to track leader over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (5) gf beating Dream Merchant (8-10) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Considine (USA) 7-1 (9-7) In touch, chased winner over 7f out, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 4l behind Prairie Sun (8-1) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (5) frm.
Northern Nymph 4-1jt-fav (9-8) In touch, ridden 4f out, kept on one pace final 2f, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Calamintha (9-8) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (6) gs in Apr.
Opportune (GER) 4-1fav (8-3) Held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, not clear run over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Chester 2m hcp 0-85 (D) gf in Aug '03 beating Vicars Destiny (9-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
Great View (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, staying on when edged left and bumped over 1f out, faded, 5th of 17, 6l behind Sovietta (8-12) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (6) hvy.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Held up, ridden over 5f out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 36l behind Fair Along (8-11) at Southwell 1m 3f 3yo hcp (E3) fbs in Feb.
Charlotte Vale 33-1 (8-12) Towards rear, never dangerous, 11th of 20, 24l behind Dundry (8-12) at York 1m 6f hcp (4) sft.