always in rear
chased winner, kept on, just held
in touch, chased leaders over 1f out, gradually fading
awkward leaving stalls, mid-division, keen, no impression from over 1f out
in touch, close up over 1f out, no extra close home
held up, effort, headway 2f out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden when not clear run over 1f out, weakened
mid-division, ridden 2f out, switched left over 1f out, one pace
mid-division, keen, headway on inside over 1f out, every chance final furlong, faded close home
made all, soon switched left after start, challenged final furlong, ran on
We'll side with LOUPHOLE here, in preference to Commander Wish and Chelsea Girl, but it looks pretty open. Louphole won a similar contest at Lingfield last time out, despite a poor start and being kept out the back early on. So, if that happens again, don't get overly concerned. That was his first win since February, but if avoiding trouble this could be his second. The ground won't be a problem, and although top weighted, he's been fairly treated. Chelsea Girl is also chasing an all-weather double. A Wolverhampton winner when trying the surface for the first time. She may also be held up for a late swoop. Commander Wish steps up from the minimum trip, which brought a couple of wins on good ground at Pontefract and Beverley, before coming third in a slowly run race at Sandown. He'll want a decent pace to this.. Most of these have course and or distance winning form; the selection has both, and that's Louphole.
Louphole 10-3 (8-8) Dwelt and hampered start, held up, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven and ran on well, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Russian Reel (9-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Commander Wish 6-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden along over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong to take 3rd near finish, not trouble leading pair, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Judge 'n Jury (9-1) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Aug.
Vigano (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (8-9) Mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 7l behind Beat The Bell (8-4) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Hessian (IRE) 50-1 (8-6) Raced centre, held up, never troubled leaders, last of 19, 17l behind Fantasy Explorer (9-3) at Newmarket 6f hcap (4) gf in Sept.
Monsieur Reynard 16-1 (9-0) Held up, headway when not clear run well over 1f out, switched right 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Doubtful Sound (9-2) at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol.
Chelsea Girl 12-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, headway when switched right over 1f out, hung left and ran on well inside final furlong, led near finish, won at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating Wibbadune (9-2) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Kingsgate Castle 25-1 (9-1) Chased leaders on the far side, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 9th of 14, 6l behind Perfect Silence (9-3) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Sand Cat 12-1 (9-1) Held up, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 2l behind Bluebok (8-12) at Goodwood 5f app hcp (5) gf.
Liberty Belle (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon struggling, last of 11, 42l behind Granary (9-1) at Folkestone 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Bahamian Bliss 16-1 (8-8) Close up, chased leading pair, not clear run over 1f out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Prescription (9-0) at Lingfield 6f 3yo app hcp (5) pol in Sept.
Rydal (USA) 14-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, never going well and always in rear, last of 13, 20l behind King's Wonder (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcap (5) pol in Sept.
Lord Deevert 5-1 (8-13) Raced alone on wide outside until over 4f out, with leaders, driven and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 6l behind Benedetto (9-7) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
