held up in touch, ridden and not much room over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, headway 2f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, led close home, all out
soon narrow leader, ridden and headed over 2f out, beaten when slightly hampered just inside final furlong and eased
held up, behind, effort wide 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, under pressure 4f out, not much room over 2f out, switched left wide over 1f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, just failed
towards rear, never dangerous
close up, effort wide 2f out, soon ridden, no impression over 1f out
held up, effort and every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
with leader, every chance over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened quickly over 1f out
held up, behind, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten
A competitive look to this opener with one or two coming into the race in fine form. One of those is Santando, from the Clive Brittain yard. On the upgrade throughout the winter and now into the turf season, Kieren Fallon has struck up a good partnership with the colt, registering three wins from four rides on him to date, including a head defeat of Crathorne over 12 furlongs at Chester recently. However, with some rain likely and a 7lb rise in the handicap, this race might just be beyond him at this stage. Nevertheless a big run is expected. Top weight Rocket Ship is open to plenty of improvement after just three racecourse appearances, but the handicapper has not exactly been lenient with him. The Pennekamp colt won't mind any rain, but is going a couple of furlongs further for the first time here and it remains to be seen if he will see out the trip off such a mark. Preference here is for Gold Medallist. The Zilzal colt is proven over both trip and on just about any going and has run well in defeat to the useful Midsummer and Santa Sophia already this season. David Elsworth's charge remains on the same mark as a mile-and-a-half success at Salisbury last time and is a value alternative to the market leaders. Emran is one of those forecast to be shorter than the selection in the market, but having not gone beyond 7f to date, he has a lot to prove here. Similarly Largo has yet to race beyond a mile and is not really bred for this trip. However his yard have enjoyed a cracking start to the season and he should be ruled out of the frame.
