chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, weakened entering final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, headway over 1f out, kept on well towards finish
in touch, led over 1f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, weakened 2f out
held up mid-division, chased leaders over 1f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced alone stands side until ridden 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
slowly away, behind, weakened over 2f out
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, held on towards finish
chased leaders, weakened 2f out
stumbled start, held up, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, no impression over 2f out
with leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
OBSERVATORY STAR can land a competitive opener, while Aspro Mavro and Kiwi Bay can both make him work hard for it. The selection represents the in-form Tim Easterby stable, and both trip and ground will suit this thoroughly consistent gelding. He is 5lbs higher than his best winning mark for this, but he has earned that increase from the handicapper. He is virtually guaranteed to run his race, and from a good draw we are happy to side with him. Aspro Mavro is nothing like as exposed as the selection, and does at least have the potential for improvement after four runs, which have seen him twice runner-up in maidens. This trip is ideal, and he has run in some big enough fields already, so he is much respected, though opposed due to the need to prove himself in these conditions. Kiwi Bay is 1lb higher than when going close in a Nottingham handicap last time, and he has the ability to get heavily involved over this trip, though he appears to prefer faster ground. Misplaced Fortune is another with a good draw. Nigel Tinkler's charge has been runner-up over this trip from a much lower mark in the past, but in recent times has been contesting sprints, and whether he will get home in the soft ground is open to doubt. Realt Na Mara and Tamasou both have claims if able to overcome unfortunate draws, but Observatory Star is selected.
Fishforcompliments 16-1 (8-8) Half reared leaving stalls, always towards rear, 11th of 15, 10l behind Aldermoor (8-4) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Oct.
The Kyllachy Kid 33-1 (8-11) Towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 8l behind Ingleby Arch (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Oct.
Kiwi Bay 11-2 (9-7) Keen, held up, headway on outer from over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind South Cape (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Toto Skyllachy 4-1fav (8-13) Chased leaders in 4th over 2f out, held when not much room inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Conry (8-11) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Observatory Star (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Towards rear, good headway on inside from 3f out, went 4th and nowhere to go from over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, ran on to take 3rd close home, unlucky, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind South Cape (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Slugger O'Toole 20-1 (8-6) Raced far side, in touch, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 23rd of 29, 21l behind Giganticus (8-12) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Misplaced Fortune 10-1 (9-0) Went slightly right start, held up in rear, headway 2f out, not reach leaders, 5th of 16, 2 1/4l behind Bended Knee (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Happy Anniversary (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride and always towards rear, 10th of 14, 12l behind Cape Hawk (9-0) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Tamasou (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, pushed along to lead over 2f out, ridden out, won at Catterick 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft beating Conry (9-0) by 1l, 12 ran.
Ocean Transit (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Led, headed narrowly over 6f out, joined leader 4f out, ridden to lead again 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on, 4th of 9, 2l behind South Cape (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Aspro Mavro (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, chased winner 2f out, driven to lead narrowly 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra near finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Big Bay (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 3yo mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Kingswinford (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd final strides, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Tamasou (8-12) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
The Galloping Shoe 5-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway on stands side rail over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Arthur's Edge (9-5) at Brighton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct.
Boy Blue 12-1 (9-0) 6th over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 15, 12l behind Conry (8-11) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Jordaura 9-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, edged right towards finish, just held, 2nd of 16, hd behind Bended Knee (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Glenridding 20-1 (8-13) Always behind, 13th of 15, 24l behind Conry (8-11) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Leonid Glow 8-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, 7th of 11, 15l behind Keys of Cyprus (9-1) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Oct.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always behind, 11th of 14, 7l behind Mujaadel (9-5) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Bid For Gold 14-1 (8-4) Ridden and behind over 2f out, last of 15, 28l behind Conry (8-11) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Realt Na Mara (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, led 2f out, stayed on well, won at Leicester 7f am hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct beating Iron Out (10-5) by 4l, 12 ran.
