led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened
mid-division, ridden 4f out, headway on inside over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, mid-division, headway 5f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on towards finish
chased leaders, lost place 4f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out
in touch, weakened over 4f out and eased
slowly into stride, mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5f out, weakened over 2f out
always towards rear
mid-division, headway on inside over 3f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed close home
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
never a factor
towards rear, some late progress
held up rear, headway on outside 2f out, ran on strongly to lead close home
in touch, chased leaders 3f out, weakened 1f out
Milk and Sultana, Opera Knight and Diamond Dan are among the shortlist for a difficult betting medium and preference is for the former on this occasion. Gerald Ham's mare can be forgiven a below par run over 1m4f as that was on her reappearance but she has a decent rider aboard and with all of her better form over 1m2f; there is an obvious opportunity to strike at this level. Diamond Dan was a recent winner at Brighton and has proven form on quirky tracks. Still open to improvement, he will be hard to beat if producing his better form. Opera Knight is a tricky customer at the best of times but Sarah Bosley is no mug and he will not be allowed to have his own way. Friends Hope is a consistent type and is likely to be staying on well inside the final couple of furlongs. Escobar has plenty of ability although he has demonstrated a tendency to pull hard in the past and his rider must have this in check to stand any chance of staying on in the finish. A hard race for getting out in but Milk And Sultana is likely to be a nice price and has fewer quirks than most.
Friends Hope 10-3fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Desert Hawk (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Diamond Dan (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Prominent, went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, stayed on well, won at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) frm beating Plain Champagne (8-9) by 2l, 14 ran.
Milk And Sultana 7-1 (8-11) Prominent, ridden 3f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 9l behind Madhavi (9-3) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) frm.
Escobar (POL) 10-1 (9-6) Took keen hold, hampered 5f out, headway to take 3rd over 1f out, pressed for 2nd near finish but no chance with winner, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Christmas Truce (8-13) at Lingfield 1m sll (6) pol in Apr.
Opera Knight 5-1fav (8-11) Mid-division, good headway over 1f out, driven to lead final furlong, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in May beating Expected Bonus (8-11) by a nk, 14 ran.
Vandal 14-1 (7-9) In touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 7, 10l behind Madhavi (9-3) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) frm.
Another Con (IRE) 7-1 (8-7) Started slowly, behind, kept on from over 1f out, never near leaders, 6th of 12, 11l behind Mustakhlas (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 4f banded stk (7) pol in Mar.
Queue Up 9-1 (8-13) Mid-division, not clear run briefly over 2f out, stayed on one pace from over 1f out, never dangerous, 4th of 13, 7l behind Scamperdale (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn clm (7) pol in May.
