towards rear, wide and headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f, no impression final furlong
mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final strides
fly jumped start, slowly into stride, in rear, never nearer
towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd near finish
led, ridden 2f out, joined inside final furlong, headed final strides
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, weakened 3f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out
in touch, progress to track leader over 5f out until over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
steadied start, always towards rear
FRENCH ART is selected ahead of Shadowtime and Kildare Sun. Nigel Tinkler has got his horses in a reasonable run of form and the five-year-old ran out a ready winner at Pontefract. Granted, he was a little disappointing next time out but the assessor has dropped him 1lb since and this faster surface should suit. Shadowtime was ahead of our selection on that occasion. That was his first run of the season and there is less likelihood of gleaning a soft lead this evening. Kildare Sun is lesser rated on the turf so is effectively 1lb lower than his last success at Wolverhampton. The market will tell us how straight she is on reappearance. By Command has ability though is frustrating. Similarly Jonny Lesters Hair often travels as if there is much more in the tank than there actually is for pressure. Paul D'Arcy is in an incredibly rare visitor to these parts so the market is watched in relation to Night Lily. French Art has the right profile for this assignment and is accordingly selected.
French Art 9-2 (9-2) Held up mid-division, swiched right and not much room over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 18, 8l behind Come And Go (9-4) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Violent Velocity (IRE) 22-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 11l behind Dabbers Ridge (8-11) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Night Lily (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) In touch, headway 2f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon driven, just held on, all out, won at Lingfield 1m hacp 0-70 (5) pol beating Saturn Way (9-2) by shd, 11 ran.
I'm Frank 9-2 (10-0) Held up in touch, driven and outpaced 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, stayed on to go moderate 3rd over 1f out, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Rawnaq (8-11) at Hamilton 1m 3f mdn stks (5) gd.
By Command 12-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along over 2f out, never dangerous, 17th of 18, 17l behind Come And Go (9-4) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Jonny Lesters Hair (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Raced keenly, tracked leader, ridden and effort 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Nufoudh (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Shadowtime 16-1 (8-7) Led, headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 18, 1 1/4l behind Come And Go (9-4) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Sarwin (USA) 9-1 (8-10) Never a factor, 10th of 16, 23l behind West End Lad (8-7) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Kildare Sun (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) In touch, chased leader 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, found extra when challenged inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct beating Lunar River (9-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ailsa Craig (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 11th of 18, 11l behind Come And Go (9-4) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Hits Only Jude (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Led ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner final furlong, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Elusive Fame (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-80 (4) fbs.
Cherri Fosfate 25-1 (9-6) Behind, ridden well over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 12l behind Chosen One (9-1) at Thirsk 6f sell stks (5) gd.
