held up in touch, ridden and stayed on to take 3rd well inside final furlong
held up, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final fulrong, no chance with winner
held up in rear, ridden halfway, soon struggling
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden to dispute 2nd, over 1f out, weakened final furlong
behind, not handled bend and ran wide, 6f out, and 5f out, well behind final 3f, tailed off
winner, made all, in command 2f out, drew well clear over 1f out, eased near finish
slowly into stride, behind, no chance final 2f
soon tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, carried head high under pressure and beaten 2f out
chased winner, no chance from 2f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, weakened
Thistle gains the nod ahead of Zwadi and Just Dance Me. John Gosden's representative has proved expensive to follow for his backers this term and while he cannot help but think that he will be better when stepped up in trip, there is enough compelling evidence to suggest that he will be good enough here. Zwadi has to be respected on the balance of her form in maidens. She is stepped back up to a mile today by Henry Candy. Her rating suggests she should go close but she did not look to get home over this trip at both Salisbury and Kempton and this has to be a worry here. Just Dance Me was completely unfancied on a recent start at Hamilton behind an odds-on hotpot. This is her first start for Roger Charlton having previously been in the care of William Haggas. Rood Boy has plenty to find on the figures while Sandokan is sure to be marked on the bookies cards given that he is owned and trained by Barney Curley. The breeding suggests that this should be plenty far enough for the newcomer Caspian Lake. With the remainder have struggled in banded stakes this term, we believe that Thistle is worth a final chance to get off the mark.
