steadied start, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, hung left and weakened final furlong
with leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced keen, tracked leaders, ridden and led over 1f out, ran on
raced keen, held up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out
Not a strong event, but competitive nonetheless. The disappointing Ouef La Neige sets the standard, and she, along with recent winner Swift Alchemist and Island Star look three of the more likely ones in this, with Ouef La Neige getting a rather tentative vote. Ed Dunlop's filly ran better than her final placing at Leicester suggests, for she missed the break and never got going until far too late. She will not mind the prevailing fast ground and granted a more positive ride, can lose her maiden tag. Swift Alchemist appeared a little fortunate to dead-heat with Buthania at Newcastle, for she would almost certainly have only finished second had Richard Hill's not dropped his hands in the dying strides. However, she was racing on the slower side that day and warrants plenty of respect in this. On a line through Kristoffersen there isn't much between Island Star and the selection, but with only three winners from seventy runners, and none of them three-year-olds, Peter Harris's team has yet to hit top form and Island Star is passed over.
