The weather played a significant role in the outcome of this race. Most of the entries were mainly proven on a quicker surface and the fact that five good ground horses finished detached or failed to finish adds plenty of substance to the notion that the going was on the soft side of good to soft and possibly soft. It is not a piece of form I would wish to be relying upon for another day.
He is also a good-ground horse, and his surprise success here may have had plenty to do with the frailties of others on this ground. The fact that he was race fit and in form may have been the determining factor in this victory.
He made up a lot of ground in the home straight to snatch second place close to the line. This performance, along with Royale Pagaille’s at Haydock, offered some encouragement that the Venetia Williams horses might be beginning to turn the corner.
This rain-softened ground would not have been for him and I would, therefore, suggest he has done very well to take third spot given his big weight. He remains interesting for a decent two-mile chase on good ground.
Once again he made up plenty of ground off the turn for home to finish closest at the line. He is another one in the race that will not have been suited to the heavy rain. This performance makes it three promising runs out of three this season. His profile suggests he requires a fast run race on a sound surface to show his best form. Thankfully, he was beaten far enough here to be kept on his 133 rating.
I suspect we will see him stepped up in distance and dropped in grade in an attempt to win the same race he won in 2024 at Ascot in December.
He raced prominently for most of the race before dropping out of contention in the home straight. The handicapper dropped him another 2lbs on his way to a mark in the low 130’s in time for Aintree in April.
He is an inconsistent type at the best of times; nonetheless, on this occasion I think we can safely put this apparently disappointing display down to the softer conditions.
This rain-softened ground would not have been for her and she remains a potentially well handicapped horse for another day.
He was pulled up early in the home straight when well beaten. He is yet another good ground horse in the race and will require a sounder surface and two miles to show his best form.
He did not jump with fluency out of ground that was softer than ideal. He continues to be held up in his races and, ideally, will need a fast run two-mile race on a decent surface where the leaders stop in front.
