prominent, ridden over 2f out, driven and stayed on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, effort halfway, no impression
held up, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong
never better than mid-division
in touch, ridden along halfway, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden along halfway, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong
always rear division
in touch, led after 1f, driven when headed entering final furlong, soon weakened
led, headed after 1f and held up behind leaders, switched left and quickened to lead entering final furlong, kept on gamely
chased leaders to halfway
always rear division
held up towards rear, ridden along and headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
Nonrunner
This looks a wide open contest, with virtually all the runners having won in the past over this trip, but our selection is the one who's done it most recently and that's RYEDANE, but others to consider include Soto and Sir Don. Tim Easterby's gelding has some collateral form here; when winning last time out at Carlisle last month, further down the field were Rio Sands, Loose Caboose and Twosheetstothewind. At this sort of level you can't rely on consistency, but all his wins have come at this distance, either on the Polytrack or when the ground's been quick. He's previously won successive races, and although he's got a poor draw here, he looks the pick of the bunch. Soto has gone 24 races since last winning almost a year ago, and now drops back from six to five furlongs, which looks a positive. He won't want the ground too quick though. Sir Don is capable of winning if everything drops right for him; we've not seen him since January when he finished well down the field in a Lingfield handicap in his first run for more than a year. Any market support would inspire confidence, and he has won before from a disadvantageous draw. However, our support goes to Ryedane.
Bluebok 14-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong to take 3rd final strides, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Garstang (9-10) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Loose Caboose (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Held up, bumped over 3f out, ridden along halfway, hung right approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Raccoon (9-13) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Soto 16-1 (9-2) Chased leader, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Gift Horse (9-4) at Ayr 6f clm stks (5) gd in May.
Monsieur Reynard 7-1 (9-5) Mid-division, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 11, 7l behind Garstang (9-10) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Rio Sands 12-1 (9-5) Behind, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, not reached leaders, 3rd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Ryedane (9-4) at Carlisle 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May.
Ryedane (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, held on well, won at Carlisle 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May beating Bahamian Ballad (8-12) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Ocean Glory (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Went left start, soon led, ridden and headed just over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 4l behind Wynberg (8-8) at Kempton 5f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jan '08.
Ronnie Howe 15-2 (8-6) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden and edged left 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 11, 5l behind Tyrannosaurus Rex (9-0) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-70 (5) fm in May.
Only A Game (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, one pace final furlong, 5th of 16, 8l behind Hansomis (8-11) at Carlisle 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Sir Don (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) In touch, lost place 3f out, soon ridden and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 6l behind Ten Down (9-3) at Lingfield 5f hcap (6) pol in Jan.
Just Joey 20-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 16th of 17, 13l behind Ryedane (9-4) at Carlisle 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May.
Spirit of Coniston 7-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 13, 4l behind Thunder Bay (9-2) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in May.
Red River Boy 11-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out and weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Thunder Bay (9-2) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in May.
Ingleby Star (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 8th of 13, 8l behind Imperial Sword (8-9) at Haydock 5f app hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in May.
Twosheetstothewind 8-1 (9-10) Raced keenly in mid-division, effort when not clear run over 2f out to over 1f out, ridden and no impression final furlong, 11th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Ryedane (9-4) at Carlisle 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May.
Select Committee 15-2 (8-8) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Andrasta (7-11) at Hamilton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in May.
Helping Hand (IRE) 25-1 (8-3) Prominent, raced keenly, ridden and rider dropped whip over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 7th of 17, 6l behind Sands Crooner (8-13) at Warwick 5f hcp 0-70 (5) fm in May.
