chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
held up, headway 4 out, ridden and effort 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leader, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened next
led, shaken up approaching 3 out, ridden next, headed last, kept on to press winner flat
mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged next, ridden to lead last, held on under pressure flat
held up, headway 3 out, every chance next, ridden and kept on one pace flat
in rear, mistakes 4th and 5th, outpaced 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders until lost place 4 out, tailed off from next
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on strongly from next, nearest finish
Marked Man will find this more his level after finding the company too hot at Aintree, but the one they all have to beat is Day Du Roy from the powerful Jonjo O'Neill yard. The five-year-old, a winner over fences in France, took his time to acclimatize when coming over to this country and after some uninspiring efforts over two-miles, he showed his true colours when stepped up in trip at Haydock last month, when winning with plenty in hand. The Handicapper has reacted by raising him 10lbs for that victory, but such was his supremacy that day, the extra weight is unlikely to halt his progress. O'Neill will know where he stands with Meldrum Star, as he beat the stables Gimmick at Chepstow over a similar trip to today's. Meldrum Star hasn't been disgraced in defeat since and will be a threat to all. Bolshoi Ballet needs to put behind him a poor run at Newbury to be competitive here, while Diamond Joshua is sure to be sharper for his outing behind Konker last week, but he has gone over two-years since he last put his head in front. Bolton Barrie has done his winning on a fast surface and Peachy, who is from a stable that is finding winners hard to come by, will surely need this run, his first since March last year. So, with more to come from Day Du Roy, he gets the vote to see off his rivals.
