outpaced, headway 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, strong run to lead last strides
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, no impression after
hampered start, in rear, ridden over 3f out, no response, eased inside final furlong
chased leader, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken when hampered inside final furlong
raced keenly, led, ridden and headed just over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed last strides
went right start, held up, headway over 1f out, squeezed through inside final furlong, no extra close home
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
The speed should come from the inside here with leading players Le Toreador, Hotham and Tony The Tap drawn one, two and three and it is the middle on the the trio, HOTHAM, who gets the vote. Noel Wilson's gelding is a goo servant to his yard and took a similar race on bottomless ground at Ayr last month, before just failing to defy a 6lb hike next time. He remains on a very competitive mark and acts well on this surface, so we will suggest him. Le Toreador ran up a hat-trick in June and July and was not far away from a mark of 80 last time. Now 1lb lower he should be in the shake-up. Tony The Tap has to lug around a 6lb penalty after a good ground Leicester win last month and he does act well here, so a career best is not beyond him. Supermassive Muse is on an attractive enough mark and has plenty of ability in context here, so on his first try on the polytrack he is an interesting contender, though he has a wide draw to contend with. Northern Bolt has frame claims once again, though he has to prove he handles this surface as one who prefers cut on turf, and we prefer the claims of Hotham.
Tony The Tap 7-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Leicester 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sept beating Best One (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Supermassive Muse (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, edged left and led inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Green Park (9-5) at Chester 5f hcap (4) gs in Sept.
First Order 18-1 (9-0) Chased leader, ridden 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong, 12th of 13, 17l behind Ishetoo (9-9) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug.
Northern Bolt 8-1 (8-13) With leaders, every chance 1f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 20, 1/2l behind Judge 'n Jury (9-0) at Doncaster 5f hcap (4) sft in Sept.
Le Toreador 9-4fav (9-2) Led narrowly, pressed and headed 1f out, kept on, lost 2 places inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Ridge Wood Dani (8-13) at Sandown 5f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Classic Encounter (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Prominent, ridden and weakened 2f out, 7th of 10, 15l behind Matterofact (8-5) at Windsor 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Aug.
Hotham 11-2 (9-11) Slowly away, in rear and soon pushed along, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Mr Wolf (9-1) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sept.
First Trim (IRE) 28-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, no progress, weakened quickly from 2f out, 8th of 10, 11l behind Polar Annie (9-1) at Newbury 6f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Aug.
El Dececy (USA) 9-1 (9-5) Led early, chased leaders until ridden and weakened over 3f out, 8th of 10, 31l behind Majuro (9-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Sept.
Not My Choice (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Mid-division, not clear run on inside 2f out, headway entering final furlong, not troubled leaders, 6th of 14, 6l behind Wyatt Earp (9-1) at Chester 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sept.
Requisite 12-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 9, 4l behind Vhujon (9-3) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Sept.
Mambo Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 6th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Supermassive Muse (8-13) at Chester 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Yungaburra (IRE) 17-2 (9-6) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Music Box Express (8-8) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Sept.
