soon led, hard driven over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, held up mid div, headway over 4f out, effort 2f out, kept on under pressure, never troubled leaders
behind, headway over 2f out, never on terms
tracked leader, driven over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
held up towards rear, hard driven 5f out, never on terms
held up towards rear, some late headway, never nearer
prominent, under pressure and weakened over 3f out
held up mid-division, outpaced over 5f out, headway over 2f out, never nearer
in touch, lost place halfway
held up towards rear, under pressure halfway, soon short of room, never dangerous
in touch, under pressure and lost place over 5f out
The trio for the shortlist are BUCKIE BOY, Trachonitis and Bell Island and the narrow vote goes to Buckie Boy. The selection hails from a top yard and he has looked like a steadily progressive colt. He went close in a maiden at Kempton last month and a reproduction of that effort here should make him tough to beat. Trachonitis is another in decent form but his penalty found him out at Goodwood last time and he will probably need to improve to get his head in front off his current mark. Bell Island twice won over this course and distance in the early part of the year but he has started to become disappointing and he raced too keenly for his own good last time. Little Carmela hails from a shrewd yard and she has a fair strike-rate on the all-weather, so any market confidence behind her should be noted. Jadalee put in a below-par effort at Wolverhampton last time, but he is better than he showed that day. Sheila's Castle can prove best of the others, but the vote goes to Buckie Boy.
Jadalee (IRE) 5-2 (9-9) Held up in touch and keen, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 8l behind Bushy Dell (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep.
Buckie Boy (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Held up, headway over 4f out, led approaching 2f out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Sep beating Mubrook (9-11) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Trachonitis (IRE) 15-2 (9-10) Held up towards rear, smooth headway to lead 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Pelham Crescent (9-12) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
Bell Island 5-2fav (11-6) Took keen hold early, tracked leaders, pushed along and losing place when hanging and not look keen from 2f out, 5th of 9, 6l behind Soundbyte (10-8) at Goodwood 1m 3f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gf in Sep.
Gamedor (FR) (9-1) 8th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Zarajak (8-13) at Lyon-parilly(FR) 1m 3f stk in Jun.
Sheila's Castle 10-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Fantino (8-7) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Sep.
Nawamees (IRE) 11-1 (8-9) Towards rear, reminders halfway, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 39l behind Rayhani (9-9) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Little Carmela 6-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, reminders over 4f out, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 7l behind Leyte Gulf (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Sep.
Father Figure (USA) 25-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, weakened over 3f out, 8th of 11, 15l behind Mutamayez (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Zalkani (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Held up, always behind, 8th of 11, 18l behind Red Expresso (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f app hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Mixing 12-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, driven over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, pulled up over 1f out, in a race won by Annambo (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Sep, 14 ran.
Alessano 25-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden, not look keen and weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 9l behind Ottoman Empire (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
