led, headed 4th, lost place from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 7th, left 3rd 3 out, kept on to take 2nd from finish, no chance with winner
always towards rear, weakened from 8th
held up in rear, pushed along from 5th, soon struggling, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, blundered 1st, mistake 6th, ridden after 4 out, 4 lengths down when left 2nd 3 out, no extra when lost 2nd towards finish
tracked leader, led 4th, headed 10th, 3 lengths down in 2nd, staying on one pace when fell 3 out
Royal Beluga may not have beaten a great deal when scoring at Doncaster last time but the opposition here does not look to be too strong and Tom George's gelding is taken to defy the 6lb rise in the weights and get the better of Ulusaba and Weaver George. The selection appreciated the drop in class when scoring at Town Moor last week and in a similarly weak contest looks the percentage call. Ferdy Murphy's Ulusaba comes here on the back of a win at Hereford last time but this is tougher and he now looks to be in the grip of the handicapper. Weaver George does not know how to run a bad race but the 13-year-old will surely find at least one of these too quick for him. Divet Hill has yet to reproduce the same form that he showed last term and may struggle to give weight away all round, while Aelred is inconsistent and a bigger threat may come from Scotmail Lad, who represents the in-form yard of George Moore. However, Royal Beluga has solid claims and gets the vote.
