soon led, headed approaching final furlong, no extra inside
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, effort 2f out, no extra final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, stayed on well
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, no extra final 2f
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway when not clear run over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on well final furlong
in touch, pushed along 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, weakened quickly over 6f out, virtually pulled up final 3 furlongs
held up in rear, headway 3f out, soon ridden and effort, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 4f, weakened over 3f out
in touch, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and onepaced final 2f
in touch, headway 6f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, never dangerous
Stamina is the key here, with the gutsy Spa Lane taken to repel the challenges of Heir To Be and Alrida, while Windshift may be one for place backers. Spa Lane has been a revelation of late, scoring at Pontefract and Southwell before making a bold bid in defeat at Beverley last time. Although yet to win in class D company, he is in such fine heart at present that he can be relied upon to give his all and rates the value, with Heir To Be likely to go off as favourite. John Dunlop's charge was in good form last season but faced a tough task in the Queen's Prize at Kempton before showing little at Salisbury. That form is quite good though with the winner following up the other day, so an improved show is on the cards. Alrida falls into a similar category, but at a bigger price, Windshift, further down the handicap makes more appeal. Roy Bowring's seven-year-old has been worth following on the all-weather, is not badly treated on turf, and is worth keeping an eye on now that he is stepped back up in trip.
