in touch, driven over 2f out and headway, ridden final furlong, not reach winner
steadied start, headway 3f out, going well when stumbled approaching 2f out, soon pulled up and dismounted
with leader, ridden 3f out, lost pace and soon behind
prominent, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
tracked leaders and going well, led on bit approaching 2f out, shaken up and edged left final furlong, driven out
led on inside, ridden when headed approach 2f out, weakened final furlong
Only a small field for this decent prize, and much will depend on the relative fitness of both Vicious Knight and Serieux. Vicious Knight failed to win last year, but was placed twice in Listed company and began the season by finishing half a length in front of Granny's Pet, who recomposes on ten pounds worse terms here. Serieux is more lightly raced than his rival, and won a valuable handicap over this trip at York last year, so should not be far away, but marginal preference goes to Vicious Knight. Of the rest, Shiny ran a cracker to finish fifth in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster last month and may have a fitness edge, but would still need to improve to win this.