held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead close home
in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, no extra inside
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, one pace final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon beaten
mid-division, chased along halfway, soon behind
always in mid-division
held up behind leaders, not much room and switched right over 1f out, led entering final furlong, headed close home
mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
Bird Over is in terrific form and should be followed until beaten, with Yorkshire Lad, Tax Free and Grigorovitch all likely to play a part in proceedings. Ralph Beckett has placed Bird Over very astutely this year as she is not too highly-rated, but her latest victory at Folkestone shows that she can handle Turf. Her maiden win last October came over seven furlongs on Wolverhampton's Polytrack, and it was no surprise when she returned there to score again in April. A comprehensive defeat of Cerebus at Southwell quickly followed despite her being dropped back in trip, and then came her most pleasing performance yet at Folkestone. Sent off a warm order as she was still six-pounds ahead of the handicapper despite a penalty, she proved far too good for the opposition despite racing a bit too keenly. She is learning all the time, and an eight-pound rise might still not be enough to stop her from following up. Yorkshire Lad returned to action at Nottingham after six-week break due to a throat infection, and pleased with the manner of his win, so the uplift in grade should not pose too much of a problem. Tax Free takes a sharp drop in trip after finishing third over a mile last time, and has joint topweight to overcome, while Grigorovitch in contrast stayed on over the minimum at Windsor and makes appeal for place purposes. Bird Over keeps winning though and can defy a rise in the weights.
Paris Bell 15-2 (8-13) Reared and left in stalls, always tailed off, last of 12, 41l behind Turn On The Style (8-5) at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp (4) gs.
Bird Over 5-4fav (9-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on outer, hard ridden to lead from 2f out, ran on well final furlong, won at Folkestone 6f 3yo fll hcp (5) sft beating Tipsy Lillie (8-5) by 2l, 10 ran.
Sentiero Rosso (USA) 16-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, not much room over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 10, 13l behind Briannsta (9-9) at Hamilton 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd.
Matsunosuke 25-1 (9-0) Held up, keen early, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 8l behind Briannsta (9-9) at Hamilton 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd.
Yorkshire Lad (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Raced stands' side, made all, driven out, won at Nottingham 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf beating Folga (9-4) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Grigorovitch (IRE) 4-1fav (8-6) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Abientot (8-1) at Windsor 5f 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Bold Haze 6-1 (8-10) Dwelt and towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 15, 10l behind Anfield Dream (8-12) at Thirsk 6f 3yo hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Tax Free (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Tsaroxy (9-2) at Thirsk 1m 3yo hcp (4) gf.
