Top-weight TUFTON can defy that handicap here to land the spoils, and is selected ahead of Ozone Trustee and Prince Samos. Richard Fahey's flying this season, and Tufton's contributed to that with a good win at Hamilton last time out. He can be slowly away, but usually manages to get involved come the business end, as he showed recently. Ozone Trustee hasn't won for a year, but that was in testing conditions, so the rain could be to his advantage, and Alan Swinbank's having another good season. Prince Samos is another who's been away from the winners' enclosure for a long while, but if everything were to fall right for him he could end a long barren spell. There's little appeal about any here though, with the exception of Tufton, who's taken to win it.
Tufton 5-4fav (8-13) Tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, stayed on to lead close home, won at Hamilton 1m 3f clm stks (6) gf beating Birkside (9-7) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Prince Samos (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along 7f out, driven 6f out, weakened over 3f out, 11th of 13, 39l behind Dimashq (9-5) at Catterick 1m 4f clm stks (6) gs.
Pianoforte (USA) 11-2 (9-6) Towards rear, ridden along halfway, some late headway, never reached challenging position, 8th of 16, 10l behind Not Now Lewis (8-13) at Thirsk 1m (6) gd in Jun.
Ming Vase 12-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, effort and every chance over 2f out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened final furlong, 8th of 16, 17l behind Gala Sunday (9-6) at Pontefract 1m 2f (5) gf in Jun.
Ozone Trustee (NZ) 5-1 (9-8) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression, 7th of 12, 9l behind Lucayan Dancer (10-0) at Redcar 1m 2f clm stks (6) gf in Jun.
Right You Are (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Raced wide, in touch, lost place over 4f out, soon weakened, 15th of 16, 50l behind Gala Sunday (9-6) at Pontefract 1m 2f (5) gf in Jun.
Reflective Glory (IRE) 66-1 (8-3) Prominent, ridden along halfway, soon beaten, last of 12, 27l behind Komreyev Star (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcap (6) fbs in Jan '08.