tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace
held up, ridden and weakened 2f out
raced wide, mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression
steadied start, keen in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, went 3rd near finish
led, ridden and hung right over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, no extra and lost 3rd near finish
pulled hard, tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, ran on
held up, headway to track leaders halfway, ridden and every chance over 1f out, ran on
tracked leaders, weakened quickly over 4f out, soon behind
Nonrunner
A race that should not take too much winning can go to TANFORAN, with Croeso Cusan an obvious danger and Opera Prince perhaps next best. The going may well be the key to this contest, and Tanforan appears to act better on faster ground than his chief rival for this prize. Trainer Brian Baugh is enjoying a good time at the moment and his eight-year-old's recent Haydock win has been part of that success. Most of his wins have been on good ground or slower, but he has won here on fast ground over this trip, so we know he can go on it. A 5lb rise for that latest victory leaves him still on a winning mark and he is our pick. Croeso Cusan carries a penalty for a good ground course and distance win last week and has the ability, but her few tries on faster ground have proved abortive and conditions have to be of serious concern. Opera Prince looks well weighted on old form and showed signs that his next win may not be far away when going well at Windsor last time, while Maybe I Wont scored here over 1m 3f last summer and looks well handicapped on that evidence, but this shorter trip might find him out. Tanforan is selected in the last. Jonathan Doidge.
Opera Prince 9-2 (8-13) Always prominent, went 2nd over 6f out, challenged from 4f out, led over 1f out, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Brouhaha (8-10) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Woodcraft 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders 2f, mid-division, weakened over 4f out, last of 11, 20l behind Sand Repeal (10-5) at Chester 1m 4f am hcp (5) gf in Aug '08.
Tanforan 25-1 (8-8) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, just held on, won at Haydock 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs beating Flying Silks (9-1) by ns, 13 ran.
Croeso Cusan 15-2 (8-11) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Warwick 1m app hcp 0-60 (6) gd beating One Scoop Or Two (8-3) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Hilbre Court (USA) 10-1 (8-13) In touch, lost place over 5f out, driven over 2f out, no impression, 11th of 13, 11l behind Bidable (8-11) at Warwick 1m app hcp 0-60 (6) gd.
Unlimited 6-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 11, 6l behind Dr Wintringham (8-13) at Chepstow 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Maybe I Wont 8-1 (10-2) Raced wide, in touch, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 20l behind Lucayan Dancer (10-9) at Newmarket 1m 2f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gf in May.
Affirmatively 100-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden halfway, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 11l behind Blue Aura (8-10) at Chepstow 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Stargazy 20-1 (8-9) Started slowly, well in rear, steady headway halfway, effort on outside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead final 150 yards, won going away, won at Brighton 1m hcp 0-55 (6) gf beating Fire King (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
