tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed final 75 yards, no extra
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, pushed along and not much room approaching final furlong, soon ridden, kept on to lead final 75 yards
held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace
dwelt, held up towards rear, never a factor
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
slowly away, always behind
Scrapper Smith, JUSTONEFORTHEROAD and Elijah Pepper are well-in here as they're due to race from higher marks in the future but they are just three of a number of runners who come into this race in good form. Glenluji has shown signs that he's capable of coping with a career high mark but he does rather need the run of the race to go his way whilst Espero looks no more than fairly handicapped and has never won on turf. Avonrose has been the very model of consistency of late but that has been reflected in her handicap mark and she appeared to have every chance from this mark last time only to come up short. The tentative suggestion is Richard Fahey's runner who made the most of the drop in grade to go close at Leicester last time and he's equally at home on a faster surface.
Thunderball 8-1 (9-7) Dwelt, soon chased winner, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Arabian Spirit (9-8) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug.
Billy Dane (IRE) 5-1fav (9-12) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 12, 10l behind Arabian Spirit (9-8) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug.
Justonefortheroad 5-1 (9-10) In touch, led briefly 2f out, fought out finish with winner until no extra near finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Tevez (8-7) at Leicester 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Aug.
Espero (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 4l behind Arabian Spirit (9-8) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug.
Avonrose 11-8fav (8-11) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, not pace of winner, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Medici Pearl (9-9) at Hamilton 1m flls hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug.
Scrapper Smith (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear and ridden, easily, won at Ayr 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Aug beating Barraland (8-9) by 8l, 9 ran.
Postman 11-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 2f out, soon ridden, edged left under pressure from over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, rallied to regain lead near finish, won at Beverley 1m am hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Aug beating Rowan Lodge (10-6) by shd, 12 ran.
Glenluji 14-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, towards rear, switched right over 1f out, soon hung left, kept on inside final furlong, never a threat, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Arabian Spirit (9-8) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug.
Elijah Pepper (USA) 12-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winer inside final furlong, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Arabian Spirit (9-8) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug.
Finsbury 16-1 (9-2) Mid-division, never a factor, 8th of 14, 13l behind Belle Noverre (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Bed Fellow (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Awkward leaving stalls and nearly unseated rider, in rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd post, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Zubova (8-10) at Musselburgh 1m clm stks 0-70 (6) gd in Aug.
