led, headed between last 2, ridden and drifted left, flat, no extra
raced keenly, tracked leader, disputed lead 7th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened
not fluent in rear, ridden and outpaced 3 out, well behind when fell last
held up, steady headway approaching 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, soon beaten
held up, pushed along 7th, outpaced after 3 out, tailed off
in touch, smooth headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, driven to lead between last 2, ridden and stayed on well flat
A moderate contest in which Rousing Thunder is likely to be favourite but looks readily opposable over this trip and we prefer to side with Beacon of Light, who gets the verdict over Deb's Son. The last mentioned was a winner over course and distance in April but has shown little since and has to give weight away all round and of more interest could be hurdling debutante Golden Aruba. Brian Ellison's four-year-old was nothing out of the ordinary on the flat but this is likely to be his level over jumps and, considering the trainer's record here, he is worthy of respect. Rousing Thunder holds The Guinea Stamp on running at Kelso recently and has to be respected but is far from certain to stay this trip so preference is for Beacon Of Light. No great shakes over middle distances on the flat, the five-year-old has taken reasonably well to hurdles and should do better over today's longer trip. Ferdy Murphy has his string in good form at present so Beacon Of Light may be worth a small investment in a poor contest.
