led stands side group until 2f out, weakened
prominent on far side, ridden over 2f out, kept on
chased leaders on stands side until 2f out
towards rear on stands side, not clear run over 2f out, running on when not clear run inside final furlong, not recover
behind on stands side, not clear run 2f out until 1f out, ran on strongly, took 3rd close home, nearest finish
chased leaders on far side, kept on same pace final 2f
reared leaving stalls, always well behind on stands side
chased leaders on far side, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
slowly into stride, soon pushed along towards rear on far side, stayed on final furlong
led far side group but overall chased leaders, every chance 1f out, kept on
chased leaders on stands side, effort over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders on far side until over 1f out
chased leaders on stands side, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders on stands side, ridden over 2f out, faded
chased leaders on stands side until weakened over 1f out
prominent on stands side, led 2f out, ran on well, ridden out
mid-division on stands side, no impression until stayed on inside final furlong
mid-division on stand side, effort 2f out, drifted right and weakened inside final furlong
Trainer David Nicholls has a fine record in this contest having saddled Zuhair to win it no fewer than four times and is represented here by Blackheath, Smokin Beau and Oranmore Castle with preference for the last mentioned of the trio and he gets the vote ahead of Malapropism, who is rated the main danger. The selection warmed up for this with a smooth win in a Beverley handicap last month and he looks well up to the task of defying a 6lb rise for that success. Bond Boy has run with some consistency this term and is entitled to be thereabouts again, while Bluebok represents the yard of another trainer that does well with his sprinters, Milton Bradley, and looks the pick of his two runners ahead of Spanish Ace. Mick Channon's Malapropism has solid claims on recent form and is set to go up 3lbs in future weights but David Nicholls is taken to improve his already excellent record in this contest and the vote goes to Oranmore Castle.
One Way Ticket 5-1 (9-13) Led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 5l behind Strensall (8-8) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Bluebok 4-1 (9-13) Held up, headway over 1f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Grigorovitch (9-10) at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Malapropism 6-1 (9-12) Led, driven over 1f out, kept on final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Grigorovitch (9-10) at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Bond Boy 8-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 4th of 9, 3l behind Knot In Wood (8-11) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
The Jobber (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Keen, chased leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 2l behind Pic Up Sticks (9-2) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Night Prospector 5-1jt-fav (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and switched left over 2f out, no impression, 9th of 11, 5l behind Hello Roberto (8-13) at Salisbury 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Oranmore Castle (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Beverley 5f hcp 0-90 (3) frm in Jul beating Pawan (8-7) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Cashel Mead 12-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, never on terms, 10th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Pic Up Sticks (9-2) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Spanish Ace 6-1 (9-11) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 9l behind Bluebok (9-7) at Yarmouth 5f hcp 0-85 (4) frm in Jul.
Nautical 11-4fav (9-10) Mid-division, not clear run 2f out, ridden approaching final furlong, every chance well inside final furlong, just held close home, 2nd of 9, shd behind Norcroft (9-10) at Kempton 6f app hcp (5) pol in Jul.
Smokin Beau 16-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 7th of 10, 3l behind Graze On (9-10) at Chester 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Cornus 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, weakened final furlong, 8th of 9, 9l behind Graze On (9-5) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Quality Street 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 11, 3l behind Mr Wolf (9-11) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Hello Roberto 12-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden and one pace from 2f out, 6th of 10, 7l behind Rosapenna (10-0) at Windsor 6f fll hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Fizzlephut (IRE) 66-1 (7-13) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened rapidly over 1f out, 19th of 23, 8l behind Machinist (8-4) at Ascot 5f hcap (2) gf in Jul.
Blackheath (IRE) 7-2 (9-11) Led far side, ridden over 2f out, soon one pace, 4th of 7, 5l behind Dizzy In The Head (9-11) at Hamilton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Holbeck Ghyll (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead briefly 2f out, soon one pace, 5th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Adantino (8-6) at Bath 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Semenovskii 5-1fav (9-0) Prominent, ridden well over 1f out, one pace and no impression inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Fyodor (9-3) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Pomfret Lad Evensfav (9-8) In touch, chased winner 2f out to over 1f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Limonia (8-10) at Hamilton 6f clm (5) gf in Jul.
