keen early, tracked leaders, ridden to dispute lead entering final furlong, kept on until no extra towards finish
chased leaders, ridden and headway over 1f out, squeezed through to challenge inside final furlong, stayed on, just held
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out
slowly away and well behind, driven and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
chased leaders to over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced
in touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on strongly to lead inside final furlong, held on gamely towards finish
made most until ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
chased leaders to over 2f out, soon ridden and behind
chased leaders 3f, soon ridden and edged right, weakened over 1f out
Les Arcs, Fantasy Believer and Spirit of France are the three to concentrate on here and the vote is given to Fantasy Believer. The selection overcame a wide draw to put up a cracking effort when a good third behind Pieter Brueghel at Pontefract last time. He has a fair draw today and with conditions to suit should be hard to beat. Les Arcs is in cracking form at present and is chasing the hat-trick. However, his last two wins have come over 7f and with this drop in trip unlikely to play to his strengths he is opposed. Spirit of France ran his best race for some time at Chepstow last time and he has to be respected as his yard have got a good record on this track. However, he is not the most consistent and for that reason is taken on. Bo McGinty would have claims on the pick of his form and both his trainer and jockey have got a great strike-rate here, bur he is not ideally drawn in stall 2. We will therefore return to Fantasy Believer who is put forward as the one to beat.
Bond City (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) In rear, effort and not clear run approaching 1f out, switched right and no impression, 8th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Smokin Beau (9-3) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol.
Fantasy Believer 9-1 (9-10) Mid-division, driven along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Pieter Brueghel (9-6) at Pontefract 6f hcp (3) gf.
Red Romeo 10-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 9l behind El Coto (9-0) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) gf in May.
Les Arcs (USA) 5-1 (9-0) Chased leaders racing keenly, not much room over 1f out, soon quickened to lead, ran on, won at Chester 7f hcp (3) gf in Jun beating Little Good Bay (9-13) by 1l, 10 ran.
Bond Boy 11-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, carried left entering final furlong, no extra, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Kostar (9-2) at Haydock 6f hcp (4) gf.
Selective 16-1 (9-6) Raced stand side, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 19, 3l behind Kamanda Laugh (9-10) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Circuit Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) In touch, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 12th of 18, 7l behind Currency (8-13) at York 6f hcp (4) gd.
Spirit of France (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Chased leader far side, ridden 2f out to chase winner, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Moonlight Man (9-9) at Chepstow 7f hcp (3) gf.
