close up far side, effort to lead group well over 1f out, every chance until driven and headed when weakening inside final furlong
held up in rear stands side, headway 2f out, switched right and ridden entering final furlong, nearest finish
held up far side group, headway well over 1f out, switched right and ridden entering final furlong, ran on to lead near finish
dwelt, behind stands side, headway 2f out, switched left and ridden entering final furlong, kept on, nearest finish
towards rear stands side, good headway on inside over 1f out, ridden and staying on when not much room entering final furlong, not recover
tracked leaders far side group, headway 2f out, ridden to lead group inside final furlong, every chance until driven and no extra near finish
slowly into stride, behind stands side group, headway 2f out, switched right and ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish
chased leaders stands side group, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division stands side group, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
always behind far side group
switched right start to race stands side group, behind until headway 2f out, switched left and ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders stands side, headway 2f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, no extra towards finish
dwelt, behind far side group, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong
led far side group, ridden 2f out, soon headed and weakened
slowly away, mid-division stands side group, some headway over 2f out, ridden and beaten over 1f out
close up stands side group, overall leader after 1f, ridden 2f out, driven and headed entering final furlong, edged right and weakened
overall leader stands side group for 1f, close up until ridden entering final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish
chased leaders stands side group, ridden over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
close up stands side group, ridden 2f out, weakening when slightly hampered entering final furlong
chased leaders far side group and keen until ridden and weakened 2f out
in touch stands side group, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong
The likes of Baltic King, Out After Dark and last time out winners Indian Trail and Chookie Heiton all warrant respect in this competitive handicap but the vote has to go to Halmahera, who is bidding for a fourth consecutive success in this contest. The selection is hardly in top form at present but then the same could have been said 12 months ago and it is far to assume that this has been the target since the Kevin Ryan-trained gelding brought the house down last year. Now 9lbs lower, the 10-year-old gelding's trainer has done remarkably well to get him down to such a low mark and, from a fabulous draw in stall 21, he looks worth chancing to win again. The Mark Tompkins-trained Connect showed signs of a revival at York on Sunday and has to be considered along with Pieter Brueghel, who represents the yard of David Nicholls that always has to be feared in any big sprint handicap and has the plum draw in stall in 22. Green Manalishi and Cape Royal have been running well of late and are worthy of a mention but Halmahera is probably better than he has shown previously this term and is taken to provide another memorable moment for his connections.
Baltic King 10-3 (9-2) Held up, headway on inside over 1f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Chookie Heiton (8-12) at Beverley 5f lst stk (1) gs in Aug.
Chookie Heiton (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on gamely, won at Beverley 5f lst stk (1) gs in Aug beating Baltic King (9-2) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Out After Dark 10-3fav (8-12) Tracked leaders on far rail, chased winner over 1f out, not clear run final furlong, switched left and finished well, just failed, 2nd of 14, nk behind Cape Royal (8-9) at Sandown 5f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Connect 15-2 (8-12) Held up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Intoxicating (8-12) at York 6f hcp (2) gf.
Paradise Isle 15-2 (9-0) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon beaten, 10th of 17, 8l behind Fruit of Glory (9-0) at Pontefract 6f lst fll stk (1) gf in Aug.
Sumora (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) With leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, just held close home, 2nd of 14, shd behind Folga (8-5) at York 5f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Fast Heart 16-1 (9-5) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 10th of 17, 2l behind Texas Gold (9-4) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Bond City (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden halfway, one pace final furlong, no impression, 10th of 15, 6l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gd.
Indian Trail 10-1 (8-6) Raced far side, held up in touch, headway over 1f out, driven and ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in Apr beating Baltic King (9-8) by a nk, 30 ran.
Funfair Wane 33-1 (9-1) Led, headed over 2f out, soon behind, 18th of 19, 42l behind Soldier's Tale (8-12) at York 6f hcp (2) gs in May.
Fantasy Believer 16-1 (9-0) Towards rear on far side, good headway from 2f out, ridden and every chance 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 27, 2 1/2l behind Gift Horse (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Cape Royal 11-2co-fav (8-12) Dwelt, behind, effort and headway halfway, kept on final furlong, 6th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gd.
Continent 33-1 (9-2) Always behind stands' side, last of 17, 25l behind Iffraaj (9-6) at York 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Mr Wolf 11-2co-fav (8-11) Led, ridden and edged left over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 15, 7l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gd.
Woodcote (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Never dangerous, 18th of 20, 16l behind Tax Free (8-9) at York 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Merlin's Dancer 16-1 (9-3) Set good pace, led on far side, ridden 2f out, no extra when headed inside final furlong, 4th of 27, 3 1/2l behind Gift Horse (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Pieter Brueghel (USA) 12-1 (9-2) Tracked leader far side, led briefly over 1f out, headed and stayed on same pace, 2nd of 23, 3l behind Ice Planet (8-7) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Green Manalishi 11-2co-fav (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gd.
Smokin Beau 16-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, 17th of 19, 10l behind Presto Shinko (9-5) at Goodwood 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Mimi Mouse 7-1 (9-0) Towards rear, effort halfway, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 6l behind Folga (8-5) at York 5f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Halmahera (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 14th of 20, 6l behind Fictional (8-11) at York 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Tom Tun 28-1 (9-10) Held up mid-division, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 12, 6l behind Sierra Vista (8-5) at Newcastle 6f hcp (2) gd in Jun.