held up in rear, effort over 2f out, kept on, never trouble leaders
in touch, chased leader over 3f out, soon ridden, edged right and led over 1f out, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous
led, edged left and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
dwelt, soon in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, outpaced halfway, kept on final furlong
squeezed start, always in rear
with leader, ridden and lost place over 3f out
The shortlist here contains Tally, Siraj and Lucius Verrus, with maybes about Saffron River, Shifty Night and Laurel Dawn, and the vote going to Tally. The selection put in a good run over five furlongs at Wolverhampton last time, and could well build on that over this longer trip. He has also won over course and distance from a higher mark in the past. Siraj is also a course and distance scorer and was only just touched off over course and distance last time, when his usual blinkers were left off. A repeat of that run gives him solid claims, while Lucius Verrus put in a fair effort on his first run of the year last time and, over this longer trip, could improve further and get in the shake-up. Shifty Night battled well to score over course and distance two runs ago, but then disappointed at Lingfield when racing too keenly, but Saffron River will need the first-time blinkers to work the oracle if he is to score. Finally, Laurel Dawn is thrown in on his 2003 form and, despite each of his wins having been gained at five furlongs, he is worth a try at six now. That's our view then, with the vote going to Tally.
Tally (IRE) 7-1 Soon outpaced, headway over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 13, nk behind Sir Ernest at W'hampton 5f sll (G4) pol.
Siraj 9-2jt-fav Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, nk behind Crusoe at Southwell 6f hcp (F4) fbs in Jan.
Weakest Link 12-1 Prominent, led halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Glencairn Star at Southwell 7f hcp (F4) fbs in Dec.
Saffron River 5-1 Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 3l behind Sedge at W'hampton 7f hcp (F4) pol.
Shifty Night (IRE) 4-1 Chased leaders, pushed along 2f out, soon outpaced, 7th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Teyaar at Lingfield 6f stk (H5) pol.
Black Sabbeth 50-1 Slowly into stride, mid-division, weakened halfway, 13th of 14, 18l behind Zorn at Southwell 6f stk (H5) std.
Laurel Dawn 14-1 Held up, not much room over 3f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 3l behind Kiss The Rain at W'hampton 5f hcp (F4) pol.
Lucius Verrus (USA) 11-2 Soon pushed along in rear, headway over 1f out, not reach leaders, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Zorn at Southwell 6f stk (H5) std.