held up mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon hung right, unable to quicken inside final furlong
keen, held up in touch, ridden 3f out, no impression
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, ran on final furlong, gaining near finish
slowly into stride, held up, not clear run 4f out, ridden and switched left over 2f out, kept on, never trouble leaders
slowly into stride, soon prominent, led over 9f out, ridden out
close up, short of room and lost place over 3f out, headway 2f out, hung left and kept on same pace
chased leading pair, ridden to chase winner 4f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, some headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, headed over 9f out, remained close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out
Nonrunner
Eton has obvious claims in this company and is the clear pick ahead of Loop The Loup, Relative Hero and Ellway Heights. Dandy Nichols always knew it was going to be a struggle to place Eton to good effect after his Newmarket victory three years ago, but the shrewd Yorkshireman has somehow managed to conjure up another four wins from the gelding thanks to some good handicapping. It is getting harder and harder to give him opportunities though, and having given young Victoria Behan a winning ride in a weak apprentice affair at Pontefract, he finds himself back in claiming territory. This is by no means a good contest, and with son Adrian back in the plate, he should just about rattle up another win. Like the selection, Loop The Loup is now a nine-year-old and is not the force of old. He has shown enough to suggest that a win in this grade is just about possible though, and he looks the main danger. Relative Hero is a course winner, and he ran fairly well in similar company at Beverley recently, while of the rest, Ellway heights should improve on his Musselburgh return, and Reminiscent should be noted in the market on this belated reappearance for a yard that knows the time of day here. Eton is the pick.
Loop The Loup 9-2 (9-8) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Tomasino (9-13) at Newcastle 1m 4f clm (5) gf in Jun.
Kaliyoun (IRE) 50-1 (8-9) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 12l behind Eton (8-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gf.
Reminiscent (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Slowly into stride, always behind, 14th of 17, 29l behind Theatre Lady (9-11) at Bath 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (F) gd in Jul '04.
Ellway Heights 25-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride, behind, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 13, 3l behind Kyle of Lochalsh (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp (6) gf.
Relative Hero (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and some headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 10, 27l behind Barking Mad (9-13) at Beverley 1m 4f clm (5) gf in Jun.
Platinum Boy (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) In touch, weakened over 4f out, 9th of 12, 22l behind Summerise (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f sll (6) pol in Jun.
Eton (GER) 13-2 (8-5) In touch, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gf beating Hilltime (8-10) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Arabian Moon (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Always in rear, tailed off, 14th of 17, well behind Cirrious (9-1) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (6) gf in Jun.
