tracked leader, ridden 3f out, every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, smooth headway over 2f out, ridden, edged left and led inside final furlong, driven out
keen, tracked leader, ran wide bend and led after 2f, ridden 3f out, headed and weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway over 2f out, soon weakened
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach leaders
always prominent, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, ridden and weakened over 3f out
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on close home
raced keen, held up, always behind
held up, ridden and some headway 2f out, soon weakened
led, hampered and headed bend after 2f, ridden over 8f out, soon behind
always behind
He may not be the most fashionable trainer but Peter Bowen's runners always merit respect and he can take this with Mr Ed. Admittedly he was well beaten when last tried off anything like this mark at Newbury last Autumn, but he has been in good form over hurdles since, stays well, won't mind any rain, and the manner of his victory at Salisbury last time suggests that he might well be up to making a lifetime best effort to land this. Another who will appreciate any rain is Contact Dancer, from the in-form John Dunlop yard. A thorough stayer, this trip will hold no worries for the gelding. However, he has needed both his reappearance runs so far and so he is likely to be better for this outing, though a big run is not out of the question. Top weight King Flyer has earned his place at the head of the weights through some consistent efforts. He is more than happy over this sort of trip, and though he would appear to want genuinely fast ground to be seen at his best, he has run well enough on plenty of different surfaces to suggest that he will again give his running. He does however look fully exposed and will do well to win off this mark. On the other hand, Mystic Forest has been dropped a few pounds after a couple of abortive attempts from a mark of 77. That will clearly be in his favour here, though he has still never won off anything higher than 71 and will need to be at his best if he is to land this, though also in his favour is the trip, which looks to be his optimum. At the bottom end of the weights, Sconced won last time out and is clearly in good heart, but still has to run from 8lb out of the handicap here, while of those running off their true marks, Isa'af looks best of the rest, though he is only moderate and may also now be in the grip of the handicapper.
