led 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat
held up, improved 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, blundered last
held up, improved 12th, chased leader after 3 out, led next, ridden out
led, headed 2nd, hit 5th and fell
in touch, mistake 6th, weakened 11th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, ridden 9th, outpaced 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on, took 2nd flat
close up, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
Front-runner Rose Tina is in very good heart at the moment and while the Towcester specialist has plenty going for her, any ease in the ground will count against her and the weather bulletins must be viewed before any view is taken about her chances. Conversely, Dark Room is one who will relish any softening of the ground. JP McManus' charge was sent off favourite for a decent Novice event at Newbury and would have finished closer to Pharaway Citizen had he not made a critical error in the race. Poly Amanshaa was a long-term fixture on the sidelines and is now back on the track at eleven years of age. He is yet to show any of his previous sparkle and to some extent the handicapper is applying a modicum of Lenin in dropping him to a mark of 103. Banjo Hill hails from a yard that is out of form at present. Emma Lavelle is no stranger to sending out the winners at Huntingdon but punters will need to take the view that his reappearance at Stratford was just "one of those things". Ulusaba is better over shorter while Quainton Hills and Strong Magic are readily opposed. In conclusion, the formbook suggests that Rose Tina and Dark Room are among the more likelier winners of this contest.
