in touch, headway to join leaders 3rd, led and mistake 2 out, ran on gamely flat
led until headed 3 out, hard ridden next, no extra approaching last
held up and behind, lost touch after 4th, never dangerous, tailed off
prominent until ridden and weakened after 4th, tailed off
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, some headway and ridden 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch, headway to lead 3 out, headed and not fluent next, one-paced last
Roman King makes a quick reappearance after stepping up on previous form when a close runner-up at Wincanton yesterday but faces a much stiffer task from 8lb out of the handicap proper so is passed over on this occasion. General has cut little ice on either start this term but has been dropped accordingly and this represents an ease in grade so has to be respected despite top weight while Silk Trader is also becoming attractively handicapped but the vote goes to Ilfrane Balima. The six-year-old excels in testing conditions as he showed when notching back-to-back victories at Uttoxeter and Leicester last month so, with ground/trip in his favour, he should prove hard to beat off a fair mark.
