led, steady paced, quickened 4f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, headed well inside, stayed on
dwelt, switched left after 100 yards, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
took keen hold behind leaders, pushed along and not much room 2f out, one paced final furlong
prominent, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden over 1f out, one paced final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
held up, not much room and switched right over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on
mid division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden one paced over final furlong
mid division, out paced final 2f
in touch, effort over 2f out, no extra final furlong
Top Dirham is in the form of his live at present and, off just a 2lb higher mark than when winning last time, is difficult to oppose in a race where Mister Arjay and Definite Guest rate the main dangers. The selection was formerly with Sir Michael Stoute and has taken time to rediscover some of his old form but has done so of late with wins at Thirsk and, latterly, at Carlisle. The form of that latest success is working out well and the five-year-old still seems to be ahead of the handicapper and is taken to complete the hat-trick. Mister Arjay remains unexposed and, although only scrambling home by a short-head over course and distance last time (for which he has been raised 5lbs since), there could be more to come. Definite Guest has claims on running behind the selection in the Carlisle Bell last month and has to be respected on the revised terms. Luca Cumani's Camelot is probably better than his reappearance run at Kempton suggests and is another to consider along with Style Dancer. Tim Easterby's gelding is on a long losing sequence but has slipped to an attractive mark as a result and cannot be dismissed lightly but, in his current form, Top Dirham will take some beating on a track that should suit his style of running.
