took keen hold, chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, ridden and no extra next
led into start, soon close up, hanging left before 5th, pecked 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
not always fluent in rear, well beaten after 3 out
led, 3 lengths clear before 2 out, ridden and headed last, not pace of winner flat
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, 2nd after 3 out until before next, weakened before last
handy, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, 3rd from 2 out, no impression on front pair, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, headway from 7th, 2nd 2 out, led last, readily
LOVELY TOUCH has shot up the weights but is bidding for a four-timer under Rules and is probably still improving. He skated up over course and distance last week and is due to go up another 10lb next week so should win again, though won’t be much of a price. Changing The Guard is only a plater nowadays while Kara Tara has been off the track for more than a year. Arboretum is another with a lengthy absence to overcome but Short Flight may have a bit of scope and is preferred to Distant Sound.
Short Flight (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, detached 4 out, plugged on to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 8, 25 1/2l behind Reivers Lad (11-12) at Newcastle 2m (4) hvy in Mar.
Changing The Guard 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened before next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Ballyrock (11-1) at Fakenham 2m 4f (4) gd in Apr.
Kara Tara 4-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, no impression and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 16 1/2l behind Sinbad The Sailor (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Lovely Touch (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, headway on bit before last, soon led, kept on strongly, readily, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May beating Fuhgeddaboudit (11-4) by 4l, 12 ran.
Distant Sound (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, weakened after 3 out, last of 12, dist behind Frozen Over (10-10) at Taunton 2m hcp (5) gf in Apr.
Spyder 22-1 (10-6) Led, headed soon after 4 out, soon in rear, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Sierra Oscar (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Polarbrook (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) In rear, headway before 2 out to tracked leaders, weakened before last, 4th of 12, 21l behind Lovely Touch (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
Arboretum 6-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, left in close 3rd 13th, went 2nd after 14th, every chance when blundered 4 out, lost 2nd and hit 3 out, weakened into 4th next, 4th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Proud Gamble (11-0) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
