held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, kept on
mid-division, headway to lead over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression
took keen hold to lead, headed over 6f out, soon beaten, tailed off
never better than mid-division
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, led over 6f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon behind
towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, never able to challenge
held up, headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner final furlong
prominent, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
took keen hold behind leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out, tailed off
prominent, chased along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, outpaced and lost ground over 5f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong
behind, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
In spite of the distance a low draw can be a real advantage in this type of race so, with that in mind, Morson Boy is fancied to be too tough to overhaul now that he has come to hand after a couple of luckless outings this season. There are numerous dangers though and Distinction, Collier Hill and Kuster should not be underestimated with their challenges. While the threat of the Irish raider Theme Song is a live one if he stays the trip. Catherine Gannon is a jockey that is really making a name for herself in her homeland and any support for her Tony Mullins-trained mount will be based on solid foundations if he runs up to his past form. However, like the rest of those drawn high, he will have to expend a lot of energy to get in a handy position at an early stage and could be there for the taking near the finish. Collier Hill, on the other hand, is better drawn will be a big danger if he is in the same frame of mind he was in when finishing fourth in the Northumberland Plate last month. The Allan Swinbank-trained gelding will appreciate the ease in the ground and should go close on a track that he has gone well at in the past. However, he found the selection much too progressive a rival to deal with when they met in a rated stakes handicap last July and has a bit to prove on that form. The softer ground should help to bring them closer together but Morson Boy edges the vote as the least exposed of the two. Distinction also has to be high on the list even though he has plenty of weight today. He has gone well over course and distance in the past and will be hard to keep out of the frame if he does himself justice on the ground. Kuster hails from a yard that are flying and could go close from the bottom of the weights but he lacks the scope held by Morson Boy, who is expected to improve for the drop back to his ideal trip and a bold show is anticipated today.
