raced wide in main group, closed on leading pair over 8f out, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, kept one pace
in rear of main group, ridden over 3f out, never a factor
led 2f, chased leading pair until 8f out, ridden and weakened over 3f out
in touch in main group, closed on clear leaders 8f out, ridden and every chance 3f out, weakened 1f out
mid-division of main group, lost place over 6f out, ridden and headway on outer from 3f out, soon chased leaders, went 4th briefly over 1f out, no extra final furlong
mid-division of main group, closed on leaders 8f out, headway 3f out, led 2f out, ridden clear final furlong
in touch in main group, closed on leaders 8f out and soon went 3rd, ridden 3f out, effort 2f out, hung right 1f out, lost 2nd post
pulled hard, chased clear leader in clear 2nd, ridden 4f out, soon weakened
led after 2f, soon clear with one other and set strong gallop, came back to the field 8f out, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon weakened
raced in last place of main group, headway over 3f out soon chased leaders, switched right 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd post
slowly into stride, in rear of main group, headway over 4f out, ridden and every chance over 3f out, weakened final furlong
in touch in main group, headway over 3f out to chase leaders, staying on when short of room 1f out, rallied to go 4th post
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A devilishly difficult end to a superb day's racing and BOLD ADVENTURE is just preferred to Dulcie, while Jeer and Mudawin are among other considered. The Willie Musson-trained pick would be a more confident choice if we had a crystal ball and could tell whether there was any market warmth for him, but without that knowledge he still has solid claims here from towards the foot of the weights. Admittedly, this is a step up from the two recent Wolverhampton wins on his CV, but he has a 9lb pull with Dan Buoy for half-a-length on their Pontefract running and should at least have the measure of that rival. He sees out two miles and beyond very well, acts on this ground, and he has already won from this mark on the Polytrack, so we hope that it is not beyond him to do so again. Dulcie has far fewer miles on the clock, and she won here over two miles in September. Both her successes have come on good to soft ground, and it remains to be seen if she is as effective without cut, so we will take her on. Jeer comes here in search of his fourth win from five starts this year and Mick Easterby again tries this 1m 4f winner at an extreme trip, a move which came unstuck at Dunstall Park in January. He has to be opposed again on grounds of stamina. The sole success on the Flat for Smugglers Bay came almost three years ago over a mile, and although he has stayed 1m 6f before, it would be some transformation to step up so far in distance and win this competitive prize. Chocolate Caramel will stay and act on the ground, and money for him would be very intesting now that he has slipped to 7lbs below his last winning mark, so keep an eye on the market for clues. King In Waiting is another with proven stamina, though he is thoroughly exposed and has not won since his 2006 debut. Twist Again will be popular with punters with Fallon up, but faster ground would be ideal and the stable's recent form is not red hot, so we'll take him on today. Former Ebor winner Mudawin goes well at this track and acts on any ground with good in the description. He is on a very competitive mark and is feared under that good judge of pace, Philip Makin, though marginal preference is for Bold Adventure.
Jeer (IRE) 2-1 (8-11) Made most, well clear with one rival 9f out, ridden 2f out, kept on gamely, just prevailed, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar beating Trachonitis (8-11) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mudawin (IRE) 20-1 (8-3) Held up behind, driven 5f out, ridden over 4f out, never able to challenge, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 25l behind Dazinski (8-7) at Ripon 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Apr.
Strobe 16-1 (9-5) Chased leader, weakened over 3f out, soon tailed off, last of 13, well behind Mighty Moon (9-3) at York 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in May '08.
Proud Times (USA) 15-2 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Prince Picasso (8-6) at Hamilton 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Twist Again (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Mid-division, driven and headway over 2f out, led and hung left over over 1f out, driven and headed well inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, nk behind Lady Hestia (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Hollins 28-1 (8-11) Keen, in touch, ridden and weakened 3f out, 13th of 18, 16l behind Trip The Light (9-5) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Royal Trooper (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, kept on well, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Lady Hestia (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Oddsmaker (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, led halfway, driven clear over 3f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Park's Prodigy (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Apr.
Dan Buoy (FR) 7-1 (9-9) Led and soon 10 lengths clear, came back to field 8f out, ridden and headed narrowly 2f out, rallied to have every chance inside final furlong, all out and just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Fair Spin (8-10) at Pontefract 2m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Hi Dancer 11-2 (9-0) Tracked winner, keen early, driven 4f out, weakened 3f out, 6th of 7, 31l behind Veloso (9-9) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar.
Smugglers Bay (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) In touch, driven and outpaced over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong, 8th of 9, 13l behind Chookie Hamilton (8-0) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May '09.
Strikemaster (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden 4f out, stayed on from over 1f out to take 4th inside final furlong, never dangerous, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Hallstatt (9-2) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
King In Waiting (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, went 3rd over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Fair Spin (8-10) at Pontefract 2m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Bogside Theatre (IRE) 5-2fav (8-6) Soon led, headed well over 2f out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 14l behind Dazinski (8-7) at Ripon 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Apr.
Dulcie 13-2 (8-1) Steadied start, pulled hard in rear, headway on outer from 4f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 15, 10l behind Aaim To Prosper (9-8) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Oct.
Chocolate Caramel (USA) 6-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never able to challenge, 4th of 7, 5l behind Lady Hestia (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Calculating (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Tracked leader until 10f out, stayed 3rd, outpaced over 3f out, rallied on outside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Callisto Moon (9-12) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Bold Adventure 9-4fav (9-8) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, drifted to stands side from over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr beating Pearl (8-12) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
