led, quicken over 3f out, soon driven, strongly challenged over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
pulled hard early, held up in touch, smooth headway well over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace
tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, stayed on to lead close home
tracked leader, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
A claimer that should chiefly concern the top four on the racecard and TUFTON is just preferred to Wind Star. The selection is 7lbs better off at today's weights with Lucayan Dancer for a little over four lengths when the pair met over 10f on fast ground at Redcar last time. With no stamina doubts over the Richard Fahey-trained gelding and conditions again to suit we will side with him this time. Lucayan Dancer should get involved once more, but Wind Star appears to be a bigger danger. Three wins from his last six starts, two in handicaps, mark Alan Swinbank's six-year-old out as one to take seriously and he also stays this far, so should go very close. Birkside won here over course and distance in a claimer in May and has struggled in handicaps in two subsequent starts. He should appreciate the return to this grade and is respected. Both Hawkit and Regent's Secret look to have a bit too much to find at these weights and we prefer the claims of Tufton.
Birkside 33-1 (9-7) Behind until ridden and kept on final 2f, never nearer, 6th of 15, 16l behind Overrule (9-6) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Lucayan Dancer 11-2 (10-0) Held up, headway 3f out, driven to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Redcar 1m 2f clm stks (6) gf in Jun beating Ming Vase (9-2) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Tufton 11-4fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, behind, headway on outer to lead over 2f out, edged left when headed entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Lucayan Dancer (10-0) at Redcar 1m 2f clm stks (6) gf in Jun.
Regent's Secret (USA) 4-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway and switched left over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 10, 4l behind Stateside (8-9) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Wind Star 13-8fav (9-8) Held up mid division, headway over 3f out, weakened entering final furlong, 4th of 8, 11l behind Munsef (9-5) at Chester 1m 2f clm stks (5) gf in Jun.
Hawkit (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Ibrox (9-7) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Jun.
