behind, ridden and headway 4th, went 3rd approaching 3 out soon one pace
led 1st, headed led again approaching 2nd, clear when headed 2 out, ridden next all out
behind, headway 4th, soon ridden along, weakened next
with leader to 2nd, weakened when ridden approaching 4th, soon tailed off
held up in touch, headway 3rd, 2nd and every chance approaching 3 out, ridden next ran on flat
behind, headway 3rd, in touch until ridden and approaching 3 out
prominent, led briefly after 1st, 3rd and ridden when headed 3 out, not fluent last, always held
Macnance, Researcher, Scratch The Dove and French Mannequin look to be the principles here and we will side with Scratch The Dove. The selection finished a close second behind Macnance at Hereford last time out, and should be capable of reversing those placings here as he is 21bs better off at the weights and has AP McCoy taking over from Tom Scudamore in the plate. French Mannequin finished fourth in that same race and is weighted to get closer to the first two home, but he was well beaten on that day and will have to improve if he is to have anything more than place claims. Researcher looks to have a better chance of troubling the principles as this gelding from the Venetia Williams yard is a course and distance winner who has been in good form of late, but he has been steadily rising in the weights and looks to be in the grip of the handicapper at present. Of the rest, Long Shot is from a leading yard and could be interesting if the market speaks in his favour, but in an open race, Scratch The Dove gets the vote.
