tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, not quickened inside
slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, tailed off from over halfway
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, led over 2f out, ran on well inside
led, ridden, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Master David has found one too good in each of his two starts so far but may again have to settle for minor honours with West Country getting the vote to fulfil his debut promise at York and score at the main expense of Great Exhibition, who also made an encouraging debut on the Knavesmire. The selection is trained by Mark Johnston, who's two-year-old runners normally improve with racing and lost no caste in defeat on his debut when chasing home the useful Secretary General with some other nice types behind. Granted there is plenty more to come, he is preferred to David Loder's Great Exhibition. Like the selection, he is by Gone West but, unlike Mark Johnston's juveniles, David Loder's youngsters are usually forward enough to do themselves justice first time out. Great Exhibition was, on the face of it, given a hard debut, in York's Convivial Maiden Stakes. However, it looked a weaker renewal than usual this year and the form has taken a few knocks since so Great Exhibition may be worth opposing. Master David has done little in wrong in two Newmarket maidens but probably needs to improve to win this and, with neither Another Bottle nor Li'l Lees making much appeal, we are happy to side with West Country.
