led, headed 4 out, driven and outpaced next, soon ridden stayed on under pressure to go 3rd flat, no impression with leading pair
mid-division, headway and in touch 7th, led 3 out to next, soon ridden, one pace approaching last, no impression flat
held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led when not fluent next, soon ridden, stayed on flat
soon pushed along in mid-division, dropped rear 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
in touch, effort to lead 4 out to next, soon ridden and outpaced by leading pair, no impression approaching last, lost 3rd flat
in touch, tracked leader 7th, lost place 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, tailed off
held up behind, headway and in touch 7th, outpaced after 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, beaten when hit last
mid-division on inside, struggling when mistake 8th, soon lost place and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, reminders and lost place 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
MIDNIGHT GOLD was impressive in the context of this race when scoring at Ffos Las in April and he gets the vote ahead of Lyster, Casual Garcia and King Raven. The Peter Bowen-trained pick has gone up 10lbs for a six-length success that day, but he probably has more in hand than the official margin. Trip and ground suit and he will do for us. Lyster is another last-time winner, having obliged at Stratford by a wide margin, for which he receives a 7lb penalty. He loves these conditions and can make a bold bid for a repeat. Casual Garcia won a couple of Flat handicaps on good to firm and has frame claims on the evidence of his run behind Mhilu last week, while King Raven has the ground to his liking and this trip is ideal, though a 7lb rise for finishing second at Plumpton looks prohibitive and preference is for Midnight Gold.
Midnight Gold 5-1 (11-11) Led 1st, made most after, ridden between last 2, stayed on well to go clear flat, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Apr beating Back In Business (11-7) by 6l, 10 ran.
Casual Garcia 25-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase winner from 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 10, 12l behind Mhilu (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd.
Lyster (IRE) 4-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, steady headway approaching 11th, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, ran on well, won at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Mac Halen (10-9) by 10l, 13 ran.
Gunnadoit (USA) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden 4th soon lost place, got round in own time, last of 9, well behind Moon Melody (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
King Raven (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 6th, hard driven 3out, strongly challenged next, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind My Matilda (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Oshkosh (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 12, well behind Musical Wedge (11-4) at Hereford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Apr.
Legal Glory (IRE) 17-2 (9-9) Prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 14, 41l behind Norisan (10-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Free To Air 11-1 (10-10) Never better than mid-division, mistake and struggling 7th, 7th of 13, 11l behind Alldunnandusted (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Shergill (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 12, 30l behind Cappagh (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
