prominent, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
keen, in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led over 6f out, headed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, behind, ridden and some headway over 1f out, never dangerous
always towards rear
behind, switched to outside over 5f out, headway over 3f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
led, headed over 6f out, lost place and not much room over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
It is impossible to look beyond Masafi here who is taken to defy a 6lbs penalty to score again at the main expense of Downland and Midshipman. The selection still looks to be one step ahead of the handicapper judging by his emphatic success over Forge Lane at Brighton on Monday. He is a course and distance winner and with conditions to suit he looks the one to beat. Downland is another with a penalty after a good success here last time when beating Merdiff. He is in good form at the present time and will not be far away at the finish,but he will have it all on to get the better of our selection. Midshipman is dropped in trip after finishing second behind another Sir Mark Prescott horse in Elusive Dream, so that gives them a good form line against this horse who might just be capable of taking some place money. The rest will have to improve to trouble the principles and we return to Masafi who is given the confident vote.