held up and behind, headway on inside under pressure over 1f out, ran on, no chance winner
held up and behind, never dangerous
held up mid-division, stayed on over 1f out, never nearer
very slowly into stride, behind, some headway over 2f out, soon beaten
led, headed over 2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders to 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led over 2f out, quickened final furlong, pushed out
pulled hard in rear, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
held up towards rear, some headway over 1f out, kept on
in touch, chased leaders 2f out, hard ridden and weakened final furlong
in touch, under pressure and weakened 2f out
This looks typical of maidens for four-year-olds and upwards in that there are plenty of exposed rivals taking each other on. One open to more improvement than most is Marcus Tregoning's Moon Edge who filled fourth place behind Red Storm in a Wolverhampton maiden on her only outing so far. However, that race was no better than this one and there are others with more solid claims. High Diva has claims on official BHB ratings and lost no caste in defeat when finding just Jade's Promise too good over course and distance last month. She should again be thereabouts. Volcanic and Mrs Pooters have to be respected in a race as weak as this but have yet to prove they really stay this trip and, while a similar comment could be made about Lobos, Simon Dow's gelding is at least bred to appreciate it. By Rainbow Quest, out of a Caerleon mare, the Swiss-bred gelding is bred for middle distances but has been showing respectable form over shorter having seemingly failed to get home over this trip when last seen over it in a handicap in October. Now may be the time to return to a distance that should suit and, at the likely odds, he looks worth chancing.
