held up in touch, pushed along 6f out, outpaced 3f out, driven and headway over 1f out, stayed on near finish
tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out, some headway under pressure 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 5f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out
led, ridden and headed 5f out, soon weakened
dwelt, held up, never dangerous
held up, pushed along 8f out, headway 3f out, soon ridden, no impression until stayed on inside final furlong
tracked leader, pushed along 8f out, led 5f out till over 2f out weakened
close up, ridden and led over 2f out till over 1f out, no extra
slow into stride, pulled hard, held up, headway 4f out, led over 1f out, ridden out
Two horses really stand out in this stayers contest, namely Starry Mary and Sashay. The Ralph Beckett-trained Starry Mary was only beaten by the shortest of margins at Folkestone last time out by an improving individual and was running that day over a trip half a mile shorter. The trip today of two miles should not cause any inconvenience but we feel that connections may be clutching at straws, as he has become rather frustrating, having not been in the winners enclosure for over two and a half years. Reg Hollinshead has his team in fine form at present and trains the six-year-old Sashay. Not beaten far at big odds over a similar trip on the all-weather at Lingfield last time out, he has got some decent form from years gone by and looks the type to hit a purple patch. Of the others, Mary Reveley is double-handed and has the services of two top jockeys. I Got Rhythm, ridden by Ted Durcan, has been in action over hurdles this winter so will not want for fitness. Having said that he is not straight forward and has not won since landing a similar contest at Mussleburgh two years ago and looks the stable second string behind Totally Scottish. Ridden by Darryll Holland, this horse was rated in the 120s over hurdles and if reproducing some of that form of last year, could carry his rivals and run them ragged. But it's a big ask and there are still question marks over the yard's well being. A race then that points to the in-form horse Sashay, who looks like he could come back to his very best after a short freshener-break and looks to have the beating of top weight Starry Mary.