close up, effort on inside and soon every chance over 1f out, ridden and stayed on
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out
slowly away, always last, weakened from 3f out
keen, held up, wide and headway approaching 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on
held up, ridden over 3f out, no impression until kept on to take 4th inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along 4f out, ridden and headway 2f out, effort when hung left entering final furlong, kept on
soon pressed leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
In a competitive handicap, Rationale gets the vote over Active Asset and Captain General. Following four Turf runs, Chocolate Caramel returns to the all-weather rated just a pound above his June 2006 12-furlong track success. Osolomio has proven very consistent of late and, although he has a career-high mark to defy if winning, he has won on the all-weather and his chance is respected. Rationale caught the eye at Leicester last time, where he lost a shoe in running, and has to be considered, although he has had only one run on the all-weather, and that came at Southwell. Active Asset has won at this track and the handicapper has at last given him a better chance so he too gets plenty of respect, while Chockdee is better known as a jumper these days. Boot 'n Toot cannot be ruled out based on the fact that he is closely weighted with Active Asset based on March 12-furlong course form, and Captain General is now rated just a pound above his course and distance winning mark of October 2006 and, lightly raced, has to be considered. Kintbury Cross has been quickly dropped by the handicapper and looks capable of winning from his current mark and, finally, all-weather debutant Go But Go has had only four runs but has shown good promise in three of them and his chance is by no means a forlorn one. Once again, though, the selection is Rationale.
Chocolate Caramel (USA) 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 6l behind Horseford Hill (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Osolomio (IRE) 4-6fav (10-0) Made all, ridden along over 2f out, driven and kept on gamely final furlong, won at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) frm beating Sporting Gesture (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Active Asset (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Horseford Hill (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Chockdee (FR) 2nd of 8 behind Magic Hill at Toulouse 1m gd in Jun '03.
Boot 'n Toot 14-1 (8-7) Took keen hold, held up in rear, no chance final 2f, 8th of 11, 11l behind Heathyards Pride (9-4) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) frm.
Captain General 2-1fav (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, no headway 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 6l behind Wild Pitch (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (4) pol in May.
Land of Light 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leader to over 3f out, kept on until weakened from 2f out, 4th of 14, 12l behind Crossbow Creek (9-13) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stk (5) pol.
Go But Go 20-1 (9-8) Towards rear, headway 2f out, nearest finish, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Tifernati (9-6) at Newbury 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (4) gd.
Rationale (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Held up in rear, driven 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly, never nearer, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Ideally (9-0) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) frm.
Kintbury Cross 9-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 7th of 16, 8l behind Tifernati (9-6) at Newbury 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (4) gd.
