swerved right start, soon chasing leaders, ridden well over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
led, ridden well over 1f out, headed towards finish
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, weakened over 1f out
in touch, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on inner over 1f out, one pace
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced
reared start, held up behind, headway on outer over 2f out, led towards finish
Obe Royal has a love affair with the polytrack and turning 5f at Wolverhampton so how he adapts to the straight and turf remains to be seen but a horse of his experience and the change might revive him. He gets the vote with Rothsay Dancer and Winthorpe appearing the main dangers. The selection does tend to make life hard for himself with his by now trademark slow start but with most of his rivals either lacking reliable form or a recent outing, he is put forward. Rothsay Dancer was beaten into third by two well handicapped sorts at Musselburgh, an improvement on his seasonal debut at Redcar. Winthorpe could never get in a blow at Southwell when stepped up to 7 furlongs last time but would have a shout if reproducing his Pontefract win last month. Obe Royal hits the racecourse for the fourteenth time this year and we nominate him to come home in front.
Obe Royal 7-2jt-fav (8-10) Slowly into stride, ridden and headway on inside over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Rabbit Fighter (9-2) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Brut 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride and bumped start, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, last of 12, 12l behind After The Show (8-4) at Warwick 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Mar.
Colorus (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Chased leaders stands' side group, weakened and hung left over 1f out, 11th of 19, 3l behind Princess Ellis (8-12) at York 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Winthorpe (IRE) 9-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, soon one pace, 6th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Xpres Maite (8-13) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Woqoodd 14-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, one pace soon after, 6th of 10, 4l behind Sweet Pickle (9-2) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Ronnie Howe 50-1 (8-12) In touch, every chance over 1f out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 15l behind Winthorpe (8-10) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Mar.
Rothesay Dancer 9-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, chased leading pair entering final furlong, soon one pace, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Rebel Duke (9-9) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Paddywack (IRE) 33-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 16, 18l behind Winthorpe (8-10) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Mar.
Baybshambles (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Chased leaders, effort when not much room over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 6l behind Spirit of Coniston (8-10) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Oct.