raced nearside, dwelt and always behind
chased leaders nearside, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders nearside, led group narrowly over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
behind far side, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up behind nearside, good headway over 2f out, ridden to dispute lead approaching final furlong, one paced
prominent nearside, weakened and behind final 2f
slowly into stride, soon close up nearside, led over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
in touch nearside, driven to lead approaching final furlong, ran on and hung right inside final furlong to dead heat on line (bit slipped)
raced alone centre, with leaders, every chance approaching final furlong, weakened
held up nearside, headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
led far side to approaching final furlong, weakened quickly
held up in touch far side, headway 2f out, effort to press leaders approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
held up far side, ridden and no impression leaders, final 2f
in touch nearside, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on
raced nearside, prominent 4f
prominent far side, still every chance approaching final furlong, weakened quickly
close up far side, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
behind nearside, kept on final furlong, never able to challenge
well in rear nearside, ran on final furlong, finished well
towards rear nearside, stayed on from over 1f out, never near to challenge
prominent far side, every chance approaching final furlong, weakened
raced far side, held up, ridden half way, kept on
held up on outside far side, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened
led nearside to over 2f out, weakened quickly
chased leaders far side, ridden over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, one paced
hood removed late leaving stalls, started slowly and always behind.
keen hold on outer nearside, no impression when hung right from over 1f out
A number of these have been primed for this race and it provides punters with the usual headaches brought on by large-field sprint handicaps. Last year 1-2, Capricho and Border Subject, along with Patavelian and the progressive Fayr Jag are all respected as live dangers for a place at least, but preference is for Fire Up The Band, who has been a revelation since finishing second in the Balmoral Handicap at last year's festival. He looks sure to make a bold bid to land the three-timer. David Nichols has been quietly confident about his charge since his course and distance victory here in March and the four-year-old could easily prove to be a class above the majority of his field today. Capricho and Border Subject both have much higher marks to overcome but should not be too far away if running up to form. Patavelian has also improved vastly in the last year and will relish the ground. He has a nice racing weight and is sure to attract plenty of support considering his trainer's record in the race. However, he has been done few favours by the draw and he will need luck on his side on the far side. Fayr Jag is probably the best each way bet in the race and it would be no surprise to see his price take a tumble. But Fire Up The Band has already shown he travels well enough in his races to take advantage when the field split into two groups.
