mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, took 2nd post
with leader, ridden to lead entering final furlong, stayed on well
held up, driven and outpaced 2f out, never on terms
mid-division, lost place over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, driven over 1f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on, lost 2nd post
He's A Humbug has come to himself recently and is given the vote ahead of Avertuoso and First Order. The selection is five pounds higher in the weights since scoring at Beverley last time out. Prior to that he had shown a decent level of form at Carlisle and although he has top weight to carry he is still 10 pounds well in on his old rating of a year or so ago. Avertuoso has never been an easy horse to win with. His strike rate is pretty poor and although he has run some fine races in defeat of late he has to be treated with caution. First Order generally comes good late on in the summer. He ran somewhere near his best when third at Redcar recently and it wont be long before we see him in the winners enclosure. But for the winner we return to He's A Humbug.
He's A Humbug (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Beverley 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gs beating Winthorpe (8-3) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Avertuoso 16-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, switched right over 1f out, driven and kept on final furlong, 4th of 15, 1 1/2l behind Efistorm (9-5) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Lord of The Reins (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, never a factor, 8th of 13, 3l behind Sohraab (9-9) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
First Order 16-1 (9-9) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Wyatt Earp (9-6) at Redcar 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Thunder Bay 18-1 (8-9) Rear division, ran wide on bend 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 7, 5l behind Hamish McGonagall (9-3) at Chester 5f 3yo hcp (3) gs.
Inspainagain (USA) 10-1 (8-5) In rear and badly outpaced, headway and edged left over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, driven out, won at York 5f app hcp (3) hvy beating Invincible Force (10-0) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Divine Spirit 25-1 (9-2) Towards rear, never a factor, 14th of 15, 14l behind Efistorm (9-5) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Sandwith 9-1 (9-3) Close up, keen, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Methaaly (9-0) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
The Bear 5-1fav (9-4) Stumbled at start and towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 17, 5l behind Misaro (9-11) at Doncaster 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Foxy Music 28-1 (9-0) Led, edged right over 1f out, soon headed, edged left, not quicken, edged left towards finish, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Green Manalishi (9-0) at Chester 5f lst stk (1) gd.
Dig Deep (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Efistorm (9-5) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Garstang 10-1 (9-3) Took keen hold, held up, never dangerous, 10th of 13, 5l behind Make My Dream (9-0) at Windsor 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
