mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on from over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
led, headed well over 6f out, remained close up, weakened well over 1f out and hung left
in touch and keen, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
in touch, not much room over 2f out, soon switched right, ridden over 1f out, no impression
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish
prominent, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and held on well towards finish
behind, ridden over 1f out, no impression
always towards rear
tracked leaders, led well over 6f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, weakened over 1f out, soon eased
slowly into stride, in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, soon eased
prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on and held towards finish
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, no extra final 75 yards
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish
A wide open contest as the market suggests, with ROSBAY just preferred to Kinsya, while Dabbers Ridge is among the dangers. The selection has to shoulder top weight here, but he still has plenty going for him. Useful 5lb claimer Lance Betts will help to lighten the load on his back, while the Desert Prince gelding is on a very competitive mark. Add to that a good draw and the likelihood of rain, which really will suit, and he has stronger claims than most. Kinsya is another who relishes cut and he has now slipped to a dangerously low mark after a barren spell stretching back to October 2007. He already has a course and distance win in the bag and is respected. Dabbers Ridge is seeking a hat-trick after successive 7f wins at Beverley. He goes on any ground but is far from certain to see out this distance. Shadowtime would not want any rain and needs to show improvement for his Beverley success to follow-up from his current mark of 72, and a better proposition looks to be Kindest. Chris Wall's filly won on soft ground over a mile at Haydock last year and pedigree suggests that this extra furlong will suit. Her recent defeat at Warwick was over too short and will have blown off a few cobwebs and she has stronger claims today. Blue Spinnaker is on a decent mark and will both stay and act on any ground, so support for him would probably be significant, while neither Ahlawy nor General Tufto are ruled out, and Duke Of Touraine is very interesting after a lengthy absence. Plenty to consider here then and Rosbay gets the nod.
Rosbay (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous, 10th of 11, 12l behind Forte Dei Marmi (9-3) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in May.
Iron Out (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, faded final furlong, 9th of 11, 12l behind Feathered Crown (8-12) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Desert Vision 14-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong to modest 4th towards finish, 4th of 7, 7l behind Magic Echo (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Muftarres (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous, 15th of 16, 21l behind Just Bond (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Jeer (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 8f out, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 29l behind Sedgwick (10-2) at York 1m 4f am hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Ra Junior (USA) 5-1 (8-12) Steadied start, held up behind, driven and outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong, never on terms, last of 6, 6l behind Fremen (9-8) at Musselburgh 1m 1f sell stks (4) gf.
Arabian Spirit 4-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden 3f out, no impression final 2f, 7th of 9, 7l behind Jonny Lesters Hair (8-5) at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Best Prospect (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) In rear, some headway over 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 28l behind Red Jade (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Mar.
Mujaadel (USA) 18-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, not troubled leaders, 7th of 11, 9l behind Brushing (8-8) at Carlisle 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Kindest 25-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, never on terms, 11th of 13, 8l behind Regeneration (8-8) at Warwick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
General Tufto 5-1 (8-10) In rear, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, held on well towards finish, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May beating Veroon (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Duke of Touraine (IRE) 11-8fav (9-1) Steadied at start, held up towards rear, smooth headway on inner 2f out, effort when not much room approaching final furlong, driven to lead inside, ran on, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr '08 beating Highland Love (8-13) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Archie Rice (USA) 16-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Agapanthus (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Dabbers Ridge (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead post, won at Beverley 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in May beating Sir George (9-1) by shd, 11 ran.
Oriental Cavalier 9-4fav (9-4) Led at good pace, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened and no chance with leading duo final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Visions Of Johanna (8-10) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Shadowtime 2-1fav (9-0) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, led well over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, ridden and rallied to regain lead final 50 yards, won at Beverley 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May beating Ninth House (8-3) by nk, 13 ran.
Chosen Forever 10-1 (9-3) Held up,ridden 4f out, outpaced over 1f out, never a factor, 7th of 12, 7l behind Buddy Holly (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Kinsya 16-1 (8-7) Mid-division, hampered over 4f out ridden and weakened 2f out, 11th of 12, 8l behind Gaily Noble (8-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Feb.
Blue Spinnaker (IRE) 7-1 (8-4) Held up behind, ridden and headway centre over 2f out, chased leading pair over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Templetuohy Max (8-7) at Carlisle 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Ahlawy (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Held up, headway towards inside over 2f out, soon disputing 2nd, chased leading pair over 1f out, dropped to 4th last half furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Spirit Is Needed (9-4) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
