4:40am - HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY TOM NORRIS HANDICAP | 2000m | | i

A very interesting race to pick through over 2000m. Early speed from MERCURIAL LAD, with perhaps SAYED moving up along with TAHSIN and MUTARAKEM if he jumps better (tempo: FAIR, hard to predict). SO YOU WIN dominated last week in a slowly-run 2000m race, the question is whether that is a reliable form reference, or if he was simply the best 800m sprinter in a race full of grinding types. At the odds, there's value in betting on the later. BERDIBEK is going much better this prep for the in-form O'Shea stable and represents a solid each-way play off the freshen-up to 2000m. ISLAND MISSILE and TAHSIN with hopes if they stay the distance. VAUCLUSE BAY worth a look in the yard after a freshen, a nice race for him if well. You'd think SO YOU WIN and ISLAND MISSILE are the ones if the tempo is slower. [updated 8:23am]