with leader, led 8f out to over 5f out, taken far side 4f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, taken far side and outpaced over 3f out, soon well behind
in touch, outpaced when edged right final 2f
started slowly, soon in touch, taken far side straight, weakened and well behind final 3f
led, taken far side straight, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway to track leaders over 6f out, weakened rapidly 3f out, tailed off
held up, taken to far side and headway over 3f out, led group over 1f out, soon clear, ran on, just held
prominent, taken far side straight, hard ridden and outpaced final 2f
soon pushed along towards rear, stayed near side rail straight, effort 3f out, led over 1f out, ran on well
prominent, led over 6f out, stayed near side straight, clear over 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
pulled hard with leader, lost place quickly 8f out, behind final 5f
One of the few who is proven over both ground and trip, Border Tale is taken to follow up his easy course and distance victory last time, with Sir Haydn and Ski Jump the main dangers and Giuliani an interesting dark horse. Michael Bell's Selkirk gelding already had some consistent efforts behind him when bolting up by five lengths at the last meeting here, and clearly relished the yielding surface on that occasion so is impossible to oppose with just a six pound penalty. Sir Haydn won on soft ground last season and faced a very stiff task behind Magistretti on his reappearance at Newmarket, so could go well in this more realistic company. Having won easily on his reappearance at Leicester, Ski Jump was odds on for his next start at Ripon, but disapppointed in sixth place, well behind Border Tale on that occasion. It is probably safe to assume he is a lot better than that, but is something of an unknown quantity on this sort of ground. disappointed was somewhat backward last season but Luca Cumani's charge is bred to come into his own over middle distances, so is one to make note of on what appears to be an attractive mark on his handicap debut.