tracked winner, ridden 2f out, no impression, weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f
slowly away, steadied, wide and headway over 4f out, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
keen, held up, kept on under pressure to take 3rd inside final furlong
close up till halfway
made all, ridden out
held up, slightly hampered 3f out, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, took 2nd inside final furlong
A shortlist is an over exaggeration of the horses that can be confidently expected to run up to form and it may be simply that Air Of Esteem appeals as the one to come out as the best of a bad bunch today. Even the booking of Tony Culhane is not enough to swing the attention to Littleton Zephir as he has never had the pace to be effective at this trip and his rider will really certainly earn his fee if he can be booted along to keep tabs, even with a modest pace, as things unfold. Cleveland Way is a prime candidate to cut out the running and as such has to be respected for the role he will play - especially if he succeeds in setting things up for a strong finisher like Air Of Esteem, who is a previous course winner that has shaped as if a race like this is his for the taking of late.