led early, tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, one pace
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong
very slowly away, held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakened entering final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, good headway on outer over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on
soon led, headed over 1f out, ridden inside last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no imrpession from over 1f out
WEE CHARLIE CASTLE is the form pick to land the opener with both Nampour and Alicante worthy of mention. The selection has won two of his last three races so comes into this race in the form of his life. He has however risen in the weights as a consequence and is a further three pounds higher since his latest victory. That does not look enough to stop him and with conditions once again in his favour he is difficult to oppose. Nampour is only lightly raced and has not been seen since January when competing in a Grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham. He has obviously had his problems since then but he was held in high regard by his trainer Phillip Hobbs so any market moves should be noted on his return to the track. Alicante won back to back races at Hamilton and Yarmouth in July but disappointed when rising thirteen pounds in the weights for those wins and flopped at Thirsk last time out. He therefore is worth treating with caution as the handicapper may just have him where he wants him for the time being. Wee Charlie Castle comes into this race in fine form and is taken to continue in his winning ways.
Nampour (FR) (9-4) won at Nancy(FR) 1m 2f stk in Apr '08 beating Cape Town (8-11) by 3l, 7 ran.
Cosmea 25-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 11l behind Ave (8-7) at Salisbury 1m 2f fll lst stks (1) gf in Aug.
Dani's Girl (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Slowly into stride, keen, held up in rear, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 5l behind Hibiki (11-4) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f am hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Wee Charlie Castle (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, driven out, won at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fm in Aug beating Grand Art (9-9) by nk, 7 ran.
Turjuman (USA) 7-2 (8-11) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Times Up (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Trachonitis (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Slow into stride, held up in rear, one pace from over 2f out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Royal Diamond (9-3) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug.
Dove Cottage (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed entering final 1f, stayed challenging, until no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Jawaab (9-8) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug.
Alicante 8-11fav (9-13) Led, steady pace over 8f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 10, 41l behind Upton Seas (8-11) at Thirsk 1m 4f fll hcp (5) gd in Jul.
