towards rear, headway 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, switched right entering final furlong, ridden and kept on, not reach leaders
mid-division, driven 2f out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, headway when not clear run over 2f out, switched right entering final furlong, ridden and kept on
raced keenly in rear, good headway on outside 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong
in touch, not clear run over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd 1f out, no impression on winner
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, beaten final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, soon lost place
chased leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden over 1f out, edged left under pressure entering final furlong, kept on same pace
slowly into stride, always behind
towards rear, ridden and headway well over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression when not much room entering final furlong
chased leaders to 2f out, soon beaten
held up, always behind
slowly into stride, headway on outside halfway, every chance 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
Rotuma is taken to gain another course and distance success at the expense of Saif Sareea, Scotland The Brave and Dove Cottage. Although there are 17 declared for this, not that many can be fancied, and hopefully the winner will come from the short-list mentioned, with preference for Rotuma. The Michael Dods-trained six-year-old has tumbled down the weights of late and there was enough encouragement to be gleaned from his recent fourth at Redcar to side with him here. His last visit in August so nearly produced another win as he went down in a photo to Compton Dragon, and with the ground in his favour here, he should make a bold bid. Saif Sareea won at Beverley in September, and was a close fourth on fast ground here last time, but will find things tougher off his new mark. Scotland The Brave returned from a 10-week break to finish second in a first-time visor at Ayr nine days ago, and should go well along with Dove Cottage who ran well to be third at Chester despite being drawn widest of all. The ground will count against Westcourt Dream though and the rest are hard to fancy, so it is Rotuma that we return to as the answer.
Saif Sareea 4-1fav (8-7) Towards rear stand side, pushed along, headway over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 20, 1l behind Tony Tie (9-1) at Newcastle 1m hcp 45-70 (5) gf in Sept.
Able Mind 6-1 (8-7) Always behind, never dangerous, 5th of 7, 13l behind Kylkenny (8-13) at Hamilton 1m 3f app hcp (5) gs in Sept.
Rotuma (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 15, 2l behind Silverhay (9-0) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Sept.
Double Ransom 9-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, behind, pushed along, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 19, 11l behind Mystical Ayr (8-3) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-60 (6) sft.
Dove Cottage (IRE) 14-1 (8-2) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Charlie Kennet (9-2) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Sept.
Westcourt Dream 25-1 (9-0) Led, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Saif Sareea (8-12) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Sept.
Donna's Double 14-1 (8-11) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 6th of 16, 3l behind Intavac Boy (8-13) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Scotland The Brave 11-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on, hung left final furlong, 2nd of 19, 1 1/2l behind Mystical Ayr (8-3) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-60 (6) sft.
