mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
in touch, switched left over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well
always behind
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
always towards rear
slowly into stride, behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest at finish
led, ridden over 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong
pulled hard, in touch, ridden and every chance 1f out, stayed on
always behind
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon edged left, one pace inside final furlong
always towards rear
mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, always towards rear
This sprint handicap is also very competitive and high in quality; Bygone Days just heads our shortlist, which also comprises Indian Trail, Tom Tun, Rising Shadow and Kingscross. The latter has been running well lately and although this is a tougher race than he has been contesting, he is one horse who will definitely appreciate this easier ground and it would be no surprise if his customary late surge grabbed him some place money at least. Another who will relish the ground is Tom Tun, who has an excellent record on a soft surface. He has not run since June, but has gone well fresh in the past, and races off the same mark as when second to Merlin's Dancer in a good race at Doncaster at the start of the season. Rising Shadow beat Tom Tun by four and a half lengths when third to the smart Sierra Vista at Newcastle in June and is only a pound worse off here. He has fared reasonably well in the Stewards Cup and Ayr Gold Cup on his last two starts, and David Barron's charge should find this a little easier. David Elsworth's Indian Trail won a very competitive race at Newmarket on his reappearance and was then off the track until running a very respectable sixth to Out After Dark in the Portland Handicap. He clearly thrives in these big fields and should be a big player here, despite top weight. But we marginally prefer the chance of Willie Haggas' Bygone Days. This four-year-old was a course and distance winner in June, beating Greenslades by a length and a quarter and actually meets that rival on better terms here. After a reasonable effort in a valuable race vin Ireland, he went down by just a length when sixth to Presto Shinko in the Ayr Gold Cup last weekend. Bygone Days seems to handle any ground, goes well for Tony Culhane, and we feel he could be the answer to this tricky puzzle
Indian Trail 5-1fav (8-13) Held up mid-division stand's side group, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 21, 1 1/2l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Greenslades 12-1 (9-6) Prominent, led over 2f out, soon ridden, no extra when headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 19, 3/4l behind Presto Shinko (9-5) at Goodwood 6f hcp (3) 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.
Bygone Days 9-1 (8-12) Held up in touch stands' side, effort over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, kept on but no impression final furlong, 6th of 27, 1 1/2l behind Presto Shinko (9-2) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd.
Primus Inter Pares (IRE) 66-1 (8-3) Behind stands' side, not clear run over 2f out until over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, 8th of 27, 1 1/2l behind Presto Shinko (9-2) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd.
Cyclical 7-4 (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden and no impression 2f out, driven and ran on inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Bond City (9-5) at Lingfield 5f 2yo stk (C2) pol in Oct.
Pike Bishop (IRE) 10-3fav (9-0) Held up, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, hung left inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind King's Gait (8-3) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Look Here's Carol (IRE) 66-1 (8-9) Pushed along to chase leaders, raced centre over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 16l behind Arakan (9-0) at York 7f lst stk (1) gf in Aug.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Slowly away, always behind far side group, 11th of 28, 6l behind Machinist (9-0) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd.
Smokin Beau 40-1 (8-7) Close up stand's side group, ridden 2f out, weakening when slightly hampered entering final furlong, 14th of 21, 4 1/2l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Desperate Dan 8-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, 12th of 13, 9l behind Pic Up Sticks (8-9) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gf.
Windy Prospect 50-1 (8-12) Outpaced and always in rear, last of 16, 16l behind Presto Shinko (8-13) at Windsor 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Tagula Sunrise (IRE) 11-4fav (8-9) Held up, ridden over 3f out, some headway to chase leaders until weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 6l behind Spirit of France (8-5) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp (2) gd.
Chateau Nicol 7-1 (9-4) Always behind, 19th of 22, 19l behind Safsoof (9-0) at Newbury 7f hcp (4) gf.
Commando Scott (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Chased winner until 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened final 2f, last of 12, 26l behind Acomb (8-6) at Ayr 7f hcp (3) gs in Jun.
Kingscross 8-1 (8-10) Held up, headway over 1f out, staying on when hampered 1f out, no chance after, 7th of 13, 3l behind Pic Up Sticks (8-9) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gf.
Johnston's Diamond (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Led far side group, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, one pace, 7th of 28, 3 1/2l behind Machinist (9-0) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd.
