raced mid-division, effort 3f out, soon weakened
raced keenly, held up towards rear, headway 2f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, ran on to lead final 50 yards
soon led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
prominent, effort to chase leader just inside final furlong, not quickened towards finish
chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, not pace of winner and headed final 50 yards
took keen hold, held up in rear, weaved through inside final furlong, never reached challenging position
held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, not much room and eased approaching final furlong
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous
pushed along 4f out, always towards rear
always prominent, pushed along 2f out, ran on inside final furlong
raced wide towards rear, never dangerous
The vote here goes to The Violin Player ahead of Crail, Ezz Elkheil, Anuvasteel and Fisby. The selection finished two lengths ahead of Crail last time over course and distance and is only a pound worse off at the weights today. Crail will probably benefit from a faster pace than he got in that race and narrowly holds Gingko on the form of that same race. However, the selection remains generally consistent and just shades it for us today. Zalkani has more to do now off a revised mark following his good run, while Ezz Elkheil holds a good chance based on best Turf form and his Lingfield run in February and is now fitted with first-time blinkers. Doris Souter has been placed here from higher marks but lacks a recent run, while Anuvasteel has a fair all-weather record, has won here over a mile and is off interest racing in first-time cheekpieces. The drop in trip from last time might help Desert Image but he needs to recapture his best, while Burgundy's best form has come in sellers and claimers. Fisby won from a five-pound lower mark at Wolverhampton last time, comes here in good heart, and his sole run here to date was inconclusive. Cormorant Wharf was staying on last time and has been generally consistent of late, while Graft is four pounds higher now than for his course and distance win last time but is held by Fisby on Wolverhampton form. Not an altogether easy race to sum up then, with the vote going to The Violin Player.
