keen, held up mid-division, took closer order 4f out, ridden and effort when hung right over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
reared start, slowly into stride, always in rear
mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
keen, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, soon tracked leaders, ridden to join leader 3f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden 2f out, never near leaders
held up in rear, never near leaders
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace final furlong
slowly into stride, patiently ridden well in rear, good headway over 1f out, edged left and led just inside final furlong, ran on
reared start, raced wide, held up, never near leaders
held up, saddle slipped over 8f out, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, short of room over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, no extra
held up, headway and edged left over 1f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, kept on
in rear, switched left over 1f out, never dangerous
pulled hard in touch, ridden and weakened 3f out
held up towards rear, headway when short of room over 1f out, soon switched left, kept on
led, ridden 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra
Nonrunner
A massive field to kick off proceedings and the short list comprises Barbirolli, Jacaranda, Dance World, Ermine Grey and Rock Haven, with the vote going to Jacaranda. The selection returns from a break of 10 months off the track but has a few things in his favour if fit enough. Firstly, he has won over this trip on the level, he also goes on decent ground, and he is an eyecatching 10lb lower now than when winning this same race in 2004. Barbirolli was runner up over this trip at Chester last time on soft ground but he has won on good and off the same mark here he can go close. Dance World has never won over shorter than 12f, but he does enjoy a sound surface and should be fine over this trip, so with first time blinkers into the equation we expect a big effort. Ermine Grey carries a penalty for a heavy ground Haydock win over a mile last time but a look at his form suggests that he will find things tougher now. Of the remainder Rock Haven could be given a chance off this mark if the rains came, while Wait For The Will needs further than this and faster ground too, so our idea of the winner here is Jacaranda.
Wait For The Will (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 1l behind Sunset Boulevard (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in May.
Barbirolli 7-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, hung left inside final furlong, not trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Lucayan Dancer (9-6) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
Sol Rojo 9-2 (11-5) Took keen hold, prominent, ridden and effort over 2f out, soon no progress, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 9l behind Bavarica (11-3) at Newbury 1m 2f amt hcp 0-80 (5) gf in Jun.
Pactolos Way 6-1 (9-5) Chased leaders in 4th, went 3rd 3f out until entering final furlong, one pace after, 4th of 8, 4l behind Birkside (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jun.
Ermine Grey 6-1 (8-5) Mid-division and keen, headway over 2f out and ridden, led over 1f out, all out, won at Haydock 1m hcap (6) hvy beating Apache Nation (9-2) by a hd, 10 ran.
Jacaranda (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Mid-division, driven and outpaced final 2f, 11th of 17, 14l behind Princelywallywogan (8-7) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct '05.
Rock Haven (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Held up, headway over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Mythical Charm (10-4) at Goodwood 1m amt hcp 0-80 (6) sft.
Fantasy Crusader 14-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden 2f out, kept on to chase leaders final furlong, not quite pace to challenge, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Bucharest (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcap (6) pol.
