Verdict

Noonday Gun won over 1m6f here last time and looks worth another try over this longer trip but it could pay to stick with GOOBINATOR (NAP). Unexposed on the Flat, Donald McCain’s winning hurdler scored over a similar distance at York last month and won’t mind any further softening of the ground. Ghadbbaan was beaten by the selection before going close again back on the Knavesmire and finishing ahead of Eagle Court while Socially Shady wasn’t beaten far at Thirsk recently though finished behind Cormier on soft going at Pontefract earlier in the year. Vis A Vis will be sharper for a recent outing at Ascot and looks best of the rest.

Formwatch

Noonday Gun 4-1 (9-7) Close up, pushed along and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Autumn War (9-13) by 2l, 7 ran.

Eagle Court (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden along over 2f out, plugged on one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Dance To Paris (9-2) at York 2m hcp (4) gf in Jul.

Ernesto (GER) 8-1 (9-9) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, soon ridden, struggling over 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 8, 31 3/4l behind Dance To Paris (9-2) at York 2m hcp (4) gf in Jul.

Goobinator (USA) 12-1 (9-7) Restrained towards rear, steady headway over 4f out, ran on strongly to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on strongly close home, won at York 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Ghadbbaan (8-8) by 3/4l, 14 ran.

Land Of Winter (FR) 7-2 (9-5) Raced wide tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Platform Nineteen (9-5) at Beverley 2m hcp (3) sft in Jul.

Cormier (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Keen early, towards rear, closed up halfway, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 6, 8 1/4l behind Hasty Sailor (9-5) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jul.

Clearance 10-3 (11-8) Mid-division, headway before 5th, ridden after 2 out, 2 1/2 lengths 3rd when fell last, at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.

Vis A Vis 50-1 (8-13) Held up in mid-division, effort when not clear run and switched right just over 1f out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Vindolanda (9-1) at Ascot 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Jul.

Gauntlet (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, nudged along over 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, slightly hampered inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Potenza (9-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Jul.

Snookered (IRE) 125-1 (11-8) Prominent, slow and lost place 5th, soon behind, last of 15, 33 1/2l behind Stonific (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jul.

Ghadbbaan 9-4fav (8-3) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, rallied well inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Dance To Paris (9-2) at York 2m hcp (4) gf in Jul.

Socially Shady 16-1 (10-0) Bustled along from stalls, mid-division, ridden over 3f out, every chance 1f out, no extra close home, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Ingleby Hollow (9-12) at Thirsk 2m hcp (5) gf in Jul.

Contrebasse 6-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, ridden over 4f out, weakening when not much room over 1f out, 6th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Justified (9-1) at Ripon 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in Aug.

Our New Buddy (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) In touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Amalfi Bay (8-12) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jul.