held up, switched left and headway 2f out, soon ridden, went 2nd over 1f out, tried to challenge winner entering final furlong, always held
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led well over 1f out, driven out
led, hard ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up well off pace in rear, closed on pack 3f out, soon switched left and ridden, no impression until stayed on final furlong
held up, ridden and switched left over 2f out, no impression until stayed on final furlong
very keen early, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Hatton Flight is selected ahead of Sir Duke and Brief Goodbye. The selection may just be a class above his rivals and has been well campaigned by his trainer this season to follow a promising reappearance with three victories on the bounce. He hasn't been too harshly treated by the handicapper and his trainer has remarked that he has the ability to win 'a nice staying handicap'. In the meantime, Andrew Balding has found him a nice opportunity to make it four wins from five starts in 2008. Sir Duke has won four from six and clearly won't be an easy nut to crack. He's still improving and connections believe that he could develop into an Ebor horse for next year. It's not easy to envisage the remainder giving that pair too much to do but Brief Goodbye has more than held his own in some competitive handicaps over the years and is feasibly treated at present. Unlike the other two though, he's not getting any better and he's likely to have to settle for a minor role at best behind our selection, Hatton Flight.
Sir Duke (IRE) 15-8fav (9-2) In touch, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating New Beginning (9-2) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hatton Flight 10-11fav (9-7) Held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, smooth headway to lead over 1f out, pushed out final furlong, won at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Jun beating Charlotte Vale (9-6) by 2l, 4 ran.
Stringsofmyheart 9-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2l behind La Vecchia Scuola (9-1) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Brief Goodbye 17-2 (8-13) Prominent in 4th, effort and chased winner 2f out, lost 2nd 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 8l behind Desert Sea (9-9) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Colonel Flay 6-1 (9-1) Held up behind, ridden and switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Double Spectre (8-13) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Bienheureux 8-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway 5f out, beaten over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 7l behind Thorny Mandate (9-7) at Chester 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Opera Writer (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Raced keenly, always prominent, led over 3f out, ridden out, won at Warwick 1m 5f app hcp (6) gf beating Sky Chart (8-4) by 1l, 12 ran.
