raced wide from main group, led pair, led overall over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on
keen tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
led centre group until pushed along over 4f out, weakened final furlong
in touch in centre group, pushed along 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear centre, pushed along and outpaced 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on
tracked centre leader, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch in rear in centre group, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
Charlie Appleby sent out last year’s winner and jockey bookings suggest Castle Way, a handicap winner over track and trip, is preferred to the higher rated Victory Dance. Like A Tiger also won a handicap here more recently while Waipiro landed a novices' race over course and distance last month. SALT BAY steps up in trip on his return having placed in a Group 1 in France at the end of last year behind a winner rated 113. That form gives Ralph Beckett’s colt every chance at this level and he won’t mind if the forecast rain arrives. Circle of Fire is another with fancy entries and is preferred to Kempton maiden winner Relentless Voyager and Forca Timao.
Castle Way 3-1 (9-4) Close up, headway to lead entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f (2) gd in Oct beating One World (9-0) by 3l, 6 ran.
Circle of Fire 7-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, switched left over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged right over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, readily, won at Salisbury 1m stks (4) gf in Sep beating Tabaretta (9-7) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Forca Timao (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Midfield, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, bumped by rival inside final furlong, ran on well to lead final strides, won at Doncaster 7f stks (4) gf in Jun beating Courageous Knight (9-7) by nk, 7 ran.
Like A Tiger 3-1fav (9-2) Reared start and lost many lengths, recovered to rear 7f out, headway 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on, impressive, won at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Regal Empire (9-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Relentless Voyager 1-4fav (8-6) Prominent, shaken up lead going best over 1f out, pushed along and went clear inside final furlong, impressive, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar beating Edge Of Ember (8-8) by 7 1/2l, 10 ran.
Salt Bay (GER) (8-13) 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Proud And Regal (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m Grp 1 stks hvy in Oct.
Victory Dance (IRE) 5-4fav (9-2) Close up, pushed along and unable to quicken over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 4 1/4l behind Nostrum (9-2) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Waipiro (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Led, headed 7f out, tracked leader, led again approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Apr beating Liberty Lane (9-11) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
