mid-division, hit 5th, soon weakened
always behind, tailed off from 5th
towards rear, driven along after 2nd, weaken from 5th
held up, headway to chase winner 5th, ridden 2 out, hit last, one pace
with winner until ridden and weaken from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along 4th, outpaced from 3 out, kept on from next, no impression
mid-division, pushed along approaching 4th, weakend from 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, kept on to chase winner flat, no impression
made all, clear approaching 5th, easily
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden along 3rd, weakened after 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
It is hard to build a case for a number of these, so the shortlist contains Bo Dancer, In Good Faith, Tiger Talk, Tender Touch and Amjad, with the vote going to Tiger Talk. Much as he is not quite the force he once was - he won from a mark of 91 in June 2002 and is now rated 77 - he has shown enough in recent runs to be given a chance here in what is a modest heat. Bo Dancer won from a six-pound higher mark than today in June 2002 and is another to have shown enough in his recent form to be given chances today, while the 15-time scorer In Good Faith is a course and distance winner who has won from a mark that is four pounds lower than today and his amateur rider claims seven pounds. Also, he drops back in trip today from his last few runs and that could also well bring about improvement. Tender Touch is seven pounds higher than when landing a seller in May and he should come here fit following a recent chasing run, while Amjad won from a 23lb higher mark in October 2002 and has form enough to play his part too although, remarkably, he is unproven on soft going. Once again, then, in summary, in a modest heat, Tiger Talk should go well.
