in touch and keen, smooth headway over 1f out, soon not much room, stayed on strongly to lead towards finish
in touch and keen, went 2nd well over 5f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden inside final furlong, no extra
towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on and held towards finish
led, ridden over 1f out, no extra and headed towards finish
outpaced in rear, soon detached
tracked leader and keen, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
ERIK THE RED had been narrowly beaten in two maidens before landing the odds at Thirsk and makes his handicap debut from what could prove a reasonable mark so is handed the vote. Spirit of Wedza has yet to win in 17 starts so it's no surprise that Mark Johnston reaches for the blinkers but Furiously Fast was going on at the finish over 7f at Chester and will be better suited by this uphill climb, as will stablemate Stardrifter who finished strongly over a mile at Carlisle after winning there over further earlier. Ythan Waters should be winning again soon judged on his run at Carlisle and Bahama Moon is a bit of an unknown having joined David Barron from France where he had some decent form.
Erik The Red (FR) 4-6fav (9-5) Made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, won at Thirsk 1m mdn stks (4) gd in Aug beating Don Keyhoe Tay (9-5) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Bahama Moon (IRE) (9-6) 4th of 5, 1 3/4l behind Gaius Caesar (9-6) at Longchamp 1m 4f stks gd in Jun.
Mystic Miraaj 4-1fav (9-7) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Mr Cool Cash (8-7) at Thirsk 7f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Stardrifter 5-1 (8-9) Took keen hold in last trio, headway on outside over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Silvery Moon (9-12) at Carlisle 1m hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Sands Chorus 9-4fav (9-5) Set steady pace until quickened over 3f out, headed over 2f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong, 3rd of 5, 7 3/4l behind Inke (8-5) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Aug.
Furiously Fast (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 4 1/4l behind Doctor Bong (9-3) at Chester 1m mdn stks (4) gf in Jun.
Spirit Of Wedza (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Led, pushed along over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind La Superba (9-7) at Beverley 1m hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Ythan Waters 5-2fav (9-7) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, effort when hung badly left inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Shamaheart (9-10) at Carlisle 1m hcp (5) gf in Aug.