held up towards rear in tightly bunched field, pushed along 3f out, soon ridden, no impression over 1f out
made all, quickened over 1f out, soon clear, very easily
held up towards rear in tightly bunched field, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked winner until ridden over 2f out, kept on under pressure to regain 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, chased winner over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, one pace
held up in touch, ridden and improved over 2f out, one pace approaching final furlong
pulled hard in rear, effort 3f out, soon ridden, no impression 2f out
Nonrunner
There was a lot to like about the way that DHERGHAAM won at Catterick and he is taken to defy a 7lb rise and follow-up, with Tatiana Romanova and Ishtar Gate also short-listed. The selection stayed on strongly to score over this trip on what was officially firm ground, so he will relish these conditions today. That maiden success sets him up nicely for handicapping, and the performance suggested that he can deliver from a mark of 84 in this sphere. Tatiana Romanova has a similar profile to our pick and was also an easy maiden winner last time on good to soft. She has encouragement on the dam's side of her pedigree that she can act on this ground and she is feared. Ishtar Gate should be much better for the drop back to this trip, over which he won on debut, although the yard are not yet fully firing and we can oppose. Vested Interest will find this much tougher than the seller he scooted up in, George Benjamin is proving very hard to win with, although he'd have frame claims at his best, and Dherghaam looks the pick.
Exceedingly Bold 33-1 (8-13) Switched left after 1f, behind, headway and effort on inside when short of room 2f out, soon lost place and behind, 9th of 10, 14l behind Kaptain Kirkup (9-3) at York 7f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Dherghaam (IRE) 10-3 (9-0) In touch, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well to go clear final furlong, readily, won at Catterick 7f mdn stks (5) fm beating Tesslam (9-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Ishtar Gate (USA) 14-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, under pressure 1f out, soon hard ridden and weakened, last of 5, 20l behind Exemplary (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
William Morgan (IRE) 9-4 (9-0) Led early, raced keenly, tracked leader, challenged 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Fibs And Flannel (8-6) at Hamilton 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Step In Time (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Soon prominent, weakened from 2f out, 19th of 20, 19l behind Lucky General (9-3) at Curragh 6f 2yo aut gd in Sep.
Tatiana Romanova (USA) 11-8 (9-0) Made all, clear final furlong, won at Musselburgh 7f 2yo stks (5) gs in Oct beating Brink (9-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Thrust Control (IRE) 9-4fav (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, hung left over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish (hand timed), won at Salisbury 7f 3yo clm (5) gf beating Chinese Democracy (8-6) by nk, 8 ran.
Vested Interest 11-2 (8-6) Swerved left soon after start, made all, ridden clear entering final furlong, eased towards finish, won at Yarmouth 6f 2yo sll (6) gf in Jul beating Steeley Flyer (8-6) by 10l, 10 ran.
George Benjamin 4-1 (9-0) Led, ridden inside final 2f, headed over 1f out, stayed on, not pace of winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Innocuous (9-0) at Southwell 1m mdn auc stks (5) fbs.
