soon pushed along and behind, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
chased leaders, led over 1f out, ridden out
led 1f, led again 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
chased leaders, lost place over 3f out, no danger after
led after 1f to 3f out, weakened and eased after 1f out
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, not troubled winner
Curtail is well-drawn and should take plenty of beating in this opener, with The History Man and Bowland Boy the pair we fear the most. The selection has been a little unlucky on a couple of occasions this season, but this colt goes well for today's pilot Graham Gibbons, and if he can run up to his best he should be good enough to lead them home from his favourable draw. The History Man rates the main danger as his form has a good solid look to it. He won well last time at York when beating Santerno, but he has a dreadful draw here in stall 8 and for that reason is taken on. Bowland Boy has plenty to prove at present but his trainer does well here and from a decent draw he could represent some decent each-way value. The London Gang has got the plum draw in stall 1 and is another worth considering but, for the winner, we return to Curtail.
The London Gang 33-1 (8-10) Led 1f, chased leader until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 10l behind City of Troy (8-7) at Newbury 7f 2yo stk (3) gf.
Curtail (IRE) 10-11fav (8-10) Prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 2l behind The Bear (9-7) at Ayr 6f 2yo hcp (3) gf.
Miss Lovat 8-1 (8-8) Behind, never a factor, last of 6, 14l behind Figaro Flyer (8-11) at York 5f 2yo hcp (3) gf.
Active Audience (IRE) 15-2 (8-2) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 11, 14l behind Maggies Farm (8-6) at Pontefract 6f 2yo mdn aut (5) gf.
Becktara (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Soon outpaced, headway halfway, ridden and one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 7, 6l behind Indigo Nights (8-11) at Chester 5f nov stk (4) gd in Jun.
Bowland Boy 20-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out, 8th of 11, 12l behind Always Baileys (8-7) at Carlisle 6f 2yo mdn aut (6) frm in May.
Grenane (IRE) 8-1 (7-5) Keen, chased winner, ridden halfway, weakened 1f out, last of 5, 5l behind Figjam (9-7) at Leicester 5f 2yo hcp (4) gf.
The History Man (IRE) 3-1 (8-8) Close up, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at York 5f 2yo mdn aut (4) gf beating Santerno (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Myths And Verses 5-2 (8-6) Held up, switched left and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Charles Darwin (9-4) at Doncaster 5f 2yo hcp (5) gf.
