led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
held up in touch, headway halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well
tracked leader, effort and chance over 1f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, pushed along halfway, no impression
tracked leaders, effort and chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden halfway, soon beaten
slowly into stride, towards rear, never dangerous
Bold Marc can take this ordinary opener, with Melalchrist and Monashee Prince to fill the minors. The selection has the benefit of three runs to his name and has run consistently well in each of those. Suited by fast ground, he won on good to firm at Musselburgh in April before being held in second at Thirsk last time. A repeat of either of those runs should be good enough here. Melalchrist got it right at the first time of asking, winning a Beverley maiden on heavy ground when making his debut earlier in the month. Whether he will be as effective on quicker ground remains to be seen, but he is respected, though the bare form of that win is perhaps not quite as good as the selection. Monashee Prince has contested a couple of decent races of late and has not been disgraced. Fifth of nine, beaten just two and a half lengths in conditions company at Chester earlier in the month, he then went down by a length to Pike Bishop on this sort of ground at Windsor last time. Another similar effort would make him a major player here, but we just give the selection vote to Bold Marc.
