towards rear, pushed along, never on terms
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, one pace
chased leaders, one pace final 2f
chased winner, one pace final furlong
prominent, weakened over 1f out,
in touch, weakened over 1f out,
held up, never dangerous
always towards rear
tracked leaders, one pace final 2f
made all, clear 2f out, eased towards finish
held up mid-division, tailed off over 2f out,
slowly away, always behind
in touch, effort on inner over 22f out, never reached leader
Countdown can beat Viva Volta and John Keats in a tricky finale. After a long winless run, John Keats showed sign of a return to form at Newcastle last time, finishing a good third, doing all his best work at the finish. Viva Volta has run well to be placed at Newcastle and Catterick recently and is in good heart. He had earlier shown he handles a soft surface at Leicester and can go well. Countdown is without a win this year but has been runner up on several occasions. He is a son of Pivotal and will handle the underfoot conditions-it was easy ground when he won twice last year when trained by Sir mark Prescott. Now with Tim easterby after a spell with Julie Camacho, Countdown can lead them home.
Reyadi (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Led and set steady pace, quickened pace over 3f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Able Baker Charlie (9-7) at Ascot 1m stk 0-80 (D) gf in Aug '03.
Angaric (IRE) 4-1 (8-9) Prominent, pushed along halfway, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind Damika (9-2) at Redcar 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Rigat 25-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden and outpaced well over 2f out, no impression when edged left over 1f out, 7th of 9, 5l behind Daaweitza (8-7) at Redcar 1m 3yo hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Vanilla Delight (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) In touch and led after 1f, headed well over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Nevada Desert (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Sept.
Efidium 40-1 (7-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Nanton (8-11) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) gd in Sept.
Viva Volta 3-1jt-fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, ridden and kept on at same pace, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Cindertrack (9-9) at Catterick 7f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Cornus 9-1 (8-12) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression, 9th of 17, 7l behind Wanchai Lad (9-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
John Keats 12-1 (9-4) Behind, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Forces Sweetheart (9-6) at Newcastle 6f 3yo hcp (5) gs.
Up Tempo (IRE) 14-1 (8-6) In touch on outside, ridden halfway, weakened approaching 2f out, 7th of 10, 10l behind Grand Show (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sept.
Flying Bantam (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Behind, outpaced well over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, 4th of 12, 8l behind Hypnotic (9-6) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Sept.
Bold Marc (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 4l behind Amy Louise (8-13) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy.
Jordans Elect 6-1 (9-0) Led, ridden 3f out, soon headed and weakened, last of 8, 17l behind Anduril (8-13) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Aug.
Sentiero Rosso (USA) 4-1fav (9-3) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 17l behind Hypnotic (9-6) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Sept.
Fair Shake (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 10, 23l behind Stellite (9-8) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Aug.
Countdown 8-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2l behind dhtrs Mezuzah (9-1) & King Harson (9-1) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Sept.
