prominent, led 4th to after 5th, 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 6th
always prominent, led approaching 6th, ridden, ran on flat
held up, headway 6th, ridden, every chance 3 out, weakened last
held up in rear, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, headed approaching 4th, in touch until weakened 3 out
always behind, mistake 5th
behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, ridden, headway after 6th, kept on flat
held up, headway 5th, chased winner from 2 out, ridden when hit last, ran on flat
From a shortlist containing Phar Out Favourite, Critical Stage, Artane Boys, A Bit Of Fun and Kims Pearl, we will side with Critical Stage. Dream Falcon would hold claims on form of a year ago, although he lacks a recent run, that last comment applying to the progressive Phar Out Favourite, although he was beaten off his revised mark last time following two good wins. Critical Stage has been knocking at the door from around today's mark and is respected, as is Artane Boys for similar reasons, and he will probably appreciate being dropped in trip today from last time. A Bit Of Fun is probably capable of running well from his current rating, having looked booked for second when unseating at Bangor last time. Kim's Pearl is open to improvement, being lightly raced and six pound above a winning mark, while Caspian Dusk is five pounds above the mark from which she won in June, so holds claims. Cashel Dancer probably has something to prove off her revised mark, while Kentucky King has proven that he can be competitive for a place from his current mark based on recent efforts. Overall, though, we will stick with Critical Stage.
Phar Out Phavorite (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-12) Always prominent, led after 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 11, 18l behind Tom Bell (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in May.
Critical Stage (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, lost place 3rd, rallied and headway approaching 2 out, ran on but not pace of winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Monticelli (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Aug.
Artane Boys 12-1 (11-1) Held up rear, headway 7th, never dangerous, 10th of 18, 48l behind Mouseski (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
A Bit of Fun 25-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, 3rd when badly hampered and unseated rider at the last in race won by Prairie Sun (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs, 15 ran.
Caspian Dusk 12-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to lead briefly 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 6l behind L'Oiseau (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Apr.
Cashel Dancer 16-1 (10-11) Always prominent, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 11, 21l behind Tom Bell (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in May.
Kentucky King (USA) 11-1 (11-12) Prominent, headway and chased leader approaching 3 out, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Nesnaas (10-13) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) frm.
Hatch A Plan (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Chased winner, ridden, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 17, 20l behind Decisive (11-2) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (E) gd in Jul.
