held up in touch, strong run to lead when clear run just inside final furlong, no extra when headed close home
slowly into stride, held up behind, headway 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, switched left and ridden 2f out, kept on
soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, onepaced final furlong
prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, switched right and headway 2f out, no impression when not clear run inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, kept on same pace
mid-division, switched left and headway 3f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on outer 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on
held up, ridden over 2f out, no impression until stayed on final furlong
In what looks a very tricky contest Coalition gets the narrowest of decisions from Gaelic Roulette and Tilla. Henry Candy's gelding was having only his second outing since returning from a long layoff, and almost took advantage of a fair handicap mark when chasing home Tudor Bell at Salisbury. Tonight's opposition are of a similar standard and a big run is expected. Gaelic Roulette made a belated reappearance when finishing a promising third behind Portrait Of A Lady at Leicester earlier this month. With that run under her belt she should make a bold bid to land this prize. Tilla found the two and a quarter mile trip beyond her last time at Pontefract, and will be much more at home over this shorter trip. Of the others Onward To Glory is a very lightly raced and is open to any amount of improvement. So just to reiterate, it is a very open event, but Coalition is one with very strong claims.