close up, headway to chase leaders 3f out, going well over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up, smooth headway going well over 3f out, quickened to lead 1f out, soon clear, easily
soon led until headed 7f out, stayed tracking leader, regained lead 4f out, ridden and headed 1f out, one pace and no impression when lost 2nd soon after
prominent, challenged 2f out, not much room on rail and switched left over 1f out, ran on to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression
in touch, effort over 2f out, soon one pace and no impression on leaders
slowly into stride, held up in rear, some headway 2f out, soon ridden and beaten
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway 3f out, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
took keen hold, raced wide throughout, soon chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, behind final 3f
prominent, went 2nd over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, led 7f out, ridden and headed 4f out, weakened over 2f out, soon well behind
A race that makes little punting appeal though we will be with SAFEBREAKER though Sand Repeal and Gloucester are worthy of respect. The selection obliged recently at Chester and with trip and going all putting ticks into the right boxes, we are confident of a follow up. Sand Repeal gets on particularly well with Ross Birkett and it would be no surprise to see him finishing close up yet again. Sam Twiston-Davies is a rider to note for the future but he is having winners already and the sometime hurdler, Gloucester, has been dropped 2lb in the ratings since a fourth at Newbury. Balnagore has the services of Simon Walker in the saddle though we would have been keener on him were this a race on the artificial surfaces rather than the turf. Sky Quest is in the veteran stage of his career though the old boy pops up in his turn. Locum is potentially very well handicapped though he does not find anywhere near what he promises. Drawn Gold is likely to be ridden prominently whilst Watson's Bay will be ridden in public for the first time by an amateur pilot. The market will give us plenty of food for thought and in the absence of it, we stick with Safebreaker.
Gloucester 16-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 4th of 12, 7l behind Oasis Knight (8-7) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Crossbow Creek 25-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, pushed along 3f out, soon outpaced, 5th of 8, 11l behind Maslak (10-13) at Windsor 1m 4f am hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug.
Balnagore 15-2 (9-2) Soon tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 8l behind Tinaar (8-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Safebreaker 7-2fav (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, soon chasing leaders, hard driven and ran on to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Chester 1m 4f am hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug beating Barbirolli (9-13) by shd, 11 ran.
Sky Quest (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden to challenge from well held 2nd over 1f out, faded final 1f, 4th of 9, 5l behind Soundbyte (10-8) at Goodwood 1m 3f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gf.
Watson's Bay 7-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, raced keenly in rear, not clear run and switched left over 2f out, switched right, headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, never near front pair, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Chalice Welcome (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Locum 8-1 (10-1) Keen, held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, driven and stayed on to go 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Hibiki (11-4) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f am hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Drawn Gold 11-2 (10-4) Soon led, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Safebreaker (10-10) at Chester 1m 4f am hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug.
Sand Repeal (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Towards rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 13, 10l behind Dazzling Begum (8-13) at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Sagarich (FR) 8-1 (9-8) In touch, led after 2f, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 10l behind Mexican Bob (9-13) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Aug.
Mae Cigan (FR) 5-1 (8-7) Held up, outpaced 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f, never near leaders, 5th of 7, 7l behind Trip The Light (9-10) at Haydock 1m 4f app hcp (5) gd in Aug.
