mid-division, ridden and edged left over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, never dangerous
always behind and struggling final 2f
tracked leader, ridden to lead narrowly just over 1f out, soon headed, no extra and faded well inside final furlong
slowly into stride, soon led, ridden and headed just over 1f out, weakened quickly
always in rear group, never a factor
slowly into stride, ridden along and soon in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place and behind well over 2f out, tailed off
prominent, squeezed through between rivals to lead inside final furlong, driven and asserted towards finish
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, led briefly 1f out, soon headed, outpaced final 100 yards
always in rear, never on terms
dwelt, in rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not troubled leaders
steadied start, held up in rear, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous
in touch, not clear run over 1f out, kept on when clear inside final furlong, gained on leaders towards finish
steadied start, mid-division, good headway over 1f out, finished well inside final furlong, not reached leaders
One or two old friends and CROCODILE BAY is the selection ahead of Hopeful Purchase and Rankayo Hitam. The selection was not disgraced when finishing fourth in a Redcar claimer and whilst he is not particularly prolific on the artificial surfaces, he has run respectably at Kempton in the past. Hopeful Purchase exhibited some form for Willie Haggas. He hasn't shown too much for current connections though the booking of David Probert is a positive. Rankayo Hitam is respected as a rare runner in claimers for Paul Cole. Flying Bantam is capable though badly drawn. I Confess appears to have improved for the application of blinkers and won here previously under a front run. Buy On The Red is quirky and difficult to catch right. Brigydon returns from a two year absence. Trimlestown would have been better off if this were a handicap though his last effort did represent a step in the right direction. Plenty of plausible chances and Crocodile Bay is our pick.
Brigydon (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 5th of 12, 6l behind Woodcote Place (9-3) at Warwick 7f mdn stk (5) gd in Aug '06.
Hopeful Purchase (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always in the rear, 11th of 12, 11l behind Final Verse (9-10) at W'hampton 7f clm (5) pol.
Buy On The Red 10-3 (9-2) In touch, pushed along halfway, driven over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Louphole (8-8) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Mid-division, effort halfway, never dangerous, 19th of 23, 19l behind Charlie Tipple (8-9) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) gd.
El Fuser 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leader and keen, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 13l behind Bahamian Kid (9-3) at W'hampton 7f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Sept.
Rockfield Tiger (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Towards rear, brief effort over 1f out, 8th of 10, 5l behind St Trinians (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Sept.
Obstructive 50-1 (9-2) Always behind, last of 14, 29l behind Captain Dunne (8-13) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-90 (3) fbs in Sept.
Trimlestown (IRE) 4-1fav (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Eternal Legacy (9-5) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Aug.
I Confess 3-1jt-fav (8-7) Made virtually all, ridden over 1f out, in command inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo sll (6) pol beating Blues Minor (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Rankayo Hitam (USA) 20-1 (8-9) Pulled hard, held up behind leaders, not clear run over 2f out, keeping on when hampered inside final 2f, beaten when eased inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 8l behind Spate River (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Little Knickers 12-1 (8-10) Chased leader, lost place 2f out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 7, 27l behind Badweia (9-6) at Newcastle 7f fll hcp (5) hvy.
Flying Bantam (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 12l behind Keys of Cyprus (9-3) at Ayr 7f hcap (5) hvy in Sept.
One More Round (USA) 10-1 (9-2) Mid-division, effort and driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 6l behind Royal Straight (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Sept.
Deal Flipper 11-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 4l behind I Confess (8-7) at Lingfield 7f 3yo sll (6) pol.
