chased leaders, led over 2f out, clear inside final furlong, kept on well
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace
reared start, towards rear and never dangerous
slowly away, towards rear and pushed along, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
towards rear, reminders halfway, pulled up before 4f out
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous
in touch, led over 2f out, soon ridden and headed, weakened over 1f out
held up, towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong
close up, soon led, reminders on stable bend, pushed along over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led early, chased leaders, went 3rd over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leader, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
Southern Strife recovered from a tardy start to win for the first time on the Flat at Carlisle three weeks ago. He's already won a bumper so the step up in trip won't be a problem. Sherman McCoy loves it here and was far from disgraced in a much better race over course and distance last month but the handicapper looks to have got to Henry Smith and Astra Hall is also high enough in the weights at present. JESSICA JO's half-sister Assault On Rome is best over a mile but her sire Mastercraftsman gets plenty of middle-distance winners and she could be well treated on her handicap debut. Gold Show may be best of the rest as Status Quo has disappointed this year.
Henry Smith 11-2 (10-0) Fly leapt leaving stalls and slowly away, in rear, stayed on from over 1f out, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 21 3/4l behind Cartwright (9-2) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Astra Hall 12-1 (8-10) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, lost place over 1f out, eased inside final furlong, last of 7, 15 1/2l behind Card High (8-8) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Take Two 10-1 (11-1) Held up, headway on inside form 4th, challenging when not fluent last, driven flat, led towards finish, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Giveagirlachance (10-8) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Shalamzar (FR) 40-1 (8-4) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 2f out, soon ridden and never dangerous, 10th of 11, 32l behind Shrewd (9-7) at York 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Cloud Monkey (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway before 5th, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Top of The Glas (11-0) at Hexham 2m mdn (5) gs in Sep.
Spifer (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 11, dist behind Lycidas (10-12) at Kelso 2m (4) gf in May.
Southern Strife 9-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, headway over 2f out, went 2nd when ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Carlisle 1m 1f hcp (5) gs in Sep beating Taking Libertys (9-2) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Correggio 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Miss Tiger Lily (11-1) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Status Quo (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Bumped start, held up towards rear, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 31 1/4l behind Baydar (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Sherman McCoy 9-1 (8-2) Tracked leader, driven 3f out, every chance 2f out, one pace and beaten over 1f out, 4th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Card High (8-8) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Ice Galley (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, 2nd after 1f and raced keenly, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 5, 8 1/4l behind Icefall (9-6) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Gold Show 5-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Canny Style (8-8) at Hamilton 1m 3f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Jessica Jo (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance from over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Bachelorhood (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) gf in Jun.
