chased leader, led 3f out, kept narrow advantage, joined 1f out, headed and unable to quicken last half furlong, lost 2nd post
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway on inside and squeezed through over 1f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong
chased leaders on outside, chased leader 2f out, ridden to challenge and every chance 1f out, not pace of winner final 100 yards, stayed on to 2nd post
slowly into stride, raced very wide in rear, some headway final furlong, never troubled leaders
always towards rear, no impression when not much room over 1f out
mid-division, switched left to inside and headway 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
led until 3f out, stayed handy until weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway halfway, keeping on when squeezed out over 1f out, not recover
Almaty Express kept on well when successful at Hamilton last month and has to be respected but a 6lb rise for that half length victory seems harsh and a better bet looks to be TALAMAHANA, who is preferred to Sharp Shoes. Ann Duffield's gelding is not the most consistent of performers but has slipped to a decent mark and has every chance on the pick of his form. Best One deserves to get his head in front having run some fair races in defeat of late but he is probably a shade high in the weights at present, while the David Evans-trained Top Flight Splash was only beaten half-a-length here over the minimum trip last time and can race off the same mark so has to be considered. Wooden King ran better at Bath over six furlongs earlier this month and would have every chance if able to build on that effort but he is seemingly better over that trip than the five that he races over today and preference is for Talamahana. Andy Haynes has his string in good heart now and he looks worth siding with having shown better form in recent starts.
Albero di Giuda (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, never nearer, 8th of 13, 6l behind Athaakeel (9-8) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Talamahana 16-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished well to 2nd close home, not able to reach winner, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Emiratesdotcom (8-13) at Bath 6f hcp 0-55 (6) fm.
Best One 7-1 (9-5) Tracked winner, ridden entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Triskaidekaphobia (9-5) at Wolverhampton 5f sell stks (6) pol in Jun.
Almaty Express 14-1 (8-0) Made all, took keen hold early, ridden over 1f out, held on well, won at Hamilton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jun beating Call Of Duty (8-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Wooden King (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Behind, headway on outside halfway, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, never going pace to reach winner, 3rd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Emiratesdotcom (8-13) at Bath 6f hcp 0-55 (6) fm.
Sharp Shoes 7-1 (9-3) Prominent, not clear run over 1f out, soon ridden, not quicken and soon betaen, 4th of 8, 3l behind Philosophers Stone (9-3) at Catterick 5f 3yo mdn aut (6) gf in May.
Commandingpresence (USA) 11-2 (8-6) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, strong challenge inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 4th of 6, 3/4l behind Mandhooma (9-0) at Brighton 5f hcp 0-55 (6) fm.
Top Flight Splash 17-2 (8-8) Towards rear, not much room over 4f out, headway on outer over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished well, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 15, 1/2l behind Forest Dane (9-9) at Brighton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jun.
Louie's Lad 20-1 (8-9) Led until 3f out, prominent until hung left and weakened quickly over 1f out, eased, last of 6, 13l behind Mandhooma (9-0) at Brighton 5f hcp 0-55 (6) fm.
Joss Stick 50-1 (8-13) Went right start, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 16l behind Ocean Blaze (9-3) at Bath 5f clm stks (6) fm in Jun.
