always rear division
prominent, ridden on outer over 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong
in touch, ridden along halfway, driven and every chance approaching final furlong, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
led, driven over 1f out, headed well inside final f, no extra close home
chased leaders to halway
chased leaders, driven over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
held up, headway on inner 2f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on
dwelt, always behind
towards rear, effort halfway, never troubled leaders
towards rear, never dangerous
held up, headway on inner over 2f out, effort when hung right over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
A competitive heat to conclude proceedings here and the short list consists of last-time winners Mandelieu, Guest Connections, Memphis Man and Lethal, but we'll side with Winthorpe. The eight-year-old is not easy to catch right but trip and ground suit, he is back on a decent mark, and he comes into the race after a decent effort at Beverley last time so today may well be the day. Mandelieu is up 2lb for a Brighton handicap success on fast ground last time and remains unexposed at this trip, so can go close again. Guest Connections won a 5f seller here last time and looks better over the minimum trip so we will oppose. Lethal won a c&d seller in July and didn't run badly last time so is not ruled out, while Memphis Man races from the same mark as his last, decent, performance and if the rains come then he won't be far away, but Winthorpe can take this.
Stamford Blue 13-2 (9-10) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 4l behind Desperate Dan (9-0) at Bath 6f app hcp (5) gs.
Memphis Man 5-1 (9-11) Dwelt, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Gentle Guru (10-3) at Newbury 6f app hcp (5) gs.
Westport 9-2 (9-7) Held up, outpaced over 2f out, soon beaten, weakened and eased final furlong, 7th of 8, 18l behind Sea Salt (8-5) at Ayr 7f clm (5) gs.
Mr Wolf 11-2 (9-8) In touch, driven over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Commander Wish (9-0) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
H Harrison (IRE) 10-1 (8-4) Led, headed over 4f out, chased leader after, ridden over 2f out, weakened towards finish, 5th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Fiefdom (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Lethal 7-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 11, 1l behind Lucayos (9-11) at Catterick 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Turn Me On (IRE) 11-4fav (9-8) Mid-division, ridden along and headway over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Glenridding (9-2) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Guest Connections 5-2 (9-7) Towards rear, soon ridden along, effort when not much room over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead post, won at Catterick 5f clm (6) gs beating Head To Head (8-4) by a shd, 9 ran.
Apollo Shark (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) In touch, effort over 2f out, edged left and weakened final furlong, last of 5, 8l behind Steel Blue (8-7) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Mandelieu (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Keen, held up, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon edged left and held on, won at Brighton 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul beating Magical Speedfit (9-7) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Winthorpe (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Held up, ridden and headway halfway, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Highland Warrior (9-6) at Beverley 5f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Brut 12-1 (8-2) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Baybshambles (8-7) at Thirsk 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
