held up towards rear, headway and effort over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish
close up, effort and chance 2f out, no extra final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on
in touch, effort over 1f out, led briefly inside final furlong, kept on same pace
close up, effort when hung left and not much room over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
This has the look of a very competitive handicap, and River Falcon gets a tentative vote ahead of the progressive Nathan Brittles and Summer Lightning. The latter was not disgraced in a decent handicap at Goodwood last time, finishing fifth behind the progressive Excalinor. The Tamure filly, who had some good form as a juvenile, led for a long way and may just be coming to hand now, so she has to be respected. Nathan Brittles is a progressive sprinter, who was scoring for the second time this season on firm ground at Catterick last month, when Frascati was a length away in third. Although strictly speaking the latter is entitled to reverse the form on three pounds better terms, David Barron's horse is still only lightly-raced and fancied to confirm the placings. However, the best form on offer clearly belongs to Jim Goldie's River Falcon. A winner of a fairly valuable handicap at Redcar last month, when he recorded a good time, he ran even better on his only start since, finishing fourth to Dazzling Bay in the William Hill Trophy at York. He does seem better over this minimum trip, and off the same mark here, River Falcon is fancied to return to winning ways.
