with leader, challenged over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong
held up in touch, headway 4f out, effort 2f out, not clear run entering final furlong, kept on same pace
towards rear, never dangerous
led, ridden and headed 3f out, no extra final furlong
held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, stayed under pressure final furlong
mid-division, headway 3f out, soon ridden and effort, stayed on to chase winner final furlong, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
in touch ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, led 3f out, ridden out
towards rear, headway and effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
A tightly-matched bunch but there's no doubt that the frustrating Solo Flight is well-weighted at best and, as such, he gets our vote. Barry Hills' gelding is now rated four-pounds lower than when winning at Newbury around this time last year, and a repeat of that would see him home. Most of the others need career-best efforts to win but, by the same token, there some unexposed types as well. Among these are John Gosden's Ripon maiden winner Les Arcs; Amanda Perrett's Humid Climate - who was disappointing last time but the form of his maiden win has worked out well; Sri Diamond - who is well-regarded and won well on his Warwick debut last season but has as absence of nearly a year to overcome; and La Dolfina, who has a progressive profile but pulled too hard for her own good last time. As we say, it's open but we'll stick with Solo Flight.
