held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, led over 1f out, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
with leader, lost place over 3f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders and keen, challenged over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd place close home
led, headed over 2f out, kept on to regain 2nd place close home
held up mid-division, pushed along after halfway, soon lost lost place, tailed off in rear
in rear, headway before 4f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
towards rear, soon in touch on outer, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
Third Of The Third won by five lengths at Hereford on his racecourse debut while Bowie and Great Roar have shown signs of ability. The Halling gelding Zarafshan is a very interesting newcomer from the John Ferguson yard and he makes more appeal than Towcester third Claiming Benefits. But we'll concentrate on previous winners King Of The Wolds and SPIRIT OF SHANKLY with preference for Charlie Longsdon's four-year-old who was impressive at Stratford in March after a promising debut at Kempton and should have strengthened up further over the summer.
Spirit Of Shankly 11-10fav (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway over 6f out led over 3f out, shaken up and quickened over 1f out, ran on strongly, eased towards finish, won at Stratford 2m mdn NH flat (5) gd in Mar beating Islandmagee (11-4) by 6l, 14 ran.
Third Of The Third 5-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon went 2nd, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Hereford 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) gf beating The Jugopolist (11-4) by 5l, 9 ran.
Claiming Benefits (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 3rd and ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace entering final furlong, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Aeschylus (11-3) at Towcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Great Roar (USA) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, left in lead after about 2f, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner final furlong, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Kolaphos (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Aug.
Rockin Ronnie (FR) 5-1 (12-0) Mid-div, some prog when fell 4out, in a race won by Long Wave (12-0) at Kilmallock 3m ire ptp gs in Apr, 10 ran.
Zarafshan (IRE) Halling gelding out of Gipsy Moth.
Total Assets Alflora filly out of Maid Equal.
King Of The Wolds (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened towards finish, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Scarlet Fire (10-7) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Bowie (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, soon challenged, kept on and every chance final furlong, just held near finish, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Omani Rebel (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jul.
