raced keenly, held up in rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, 2nd and ridden 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, headway on outside under pressure into modest 3rd over 1f out
tracked leader 2f, handy 3rd, pushed along 4f out, outpaced over 3f out, hung left and outpaced over 2f out
went right start, headway to track leader 12f out until 8f out, remained handy, smooth headway on outside to lead over 3f out, ridden and headed well inside final furlong
held up in touch in last pair, headway on outside chasing leaders 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
took keen hold, held up, headway tracking leaders 9f out, went 2nd 8f out, led briefly over 3f out, chased leader until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led until over 3f out, ridden and outpaced inside final 3f, no danger after
With two victories and a second to his name over this course and distance, BILL CODY (NAP) heads the short-list. Soft going may not have been ideal last time but Julie Camacho’s gelding still ran his race and will be tough to beat getting weight all round. Wax And Wane ran a shocker at York but would have claims on an earlier second at Ayr, though has a lot find with Billy Ray on the form book. Nuits St Georges and Amazing Michele are both recent winners and Volcanic Sky is fitted with headgear after a disappointing run at Kempton – he might be suited by a return to Turf. Sea Youmzain didn’t handle heavy going last time at Haydock and shouldn’t be ignored.
Billy Ray 33-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden ad headway 2f out, never on terms with leaders, 5th of 12, 13l behind Elegiac (8-12) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Wax And Wane 20-1 (8-3) Soon prominent, ridden and lost place over 4f out, well behind final 3f, 11th of 12, dist behind Elegiac (8-12) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Sea Youmzain (IRE) 16-1 (8-2) Raced wide close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 7, 19 1/4l behind Mekong (8-11) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Volcanic Sky 9-4fav (9-5) Soon led, headed 10f out, prominent, led again 3f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 8th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Envoy (9-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Amazing Michele (FR) 6-1 (9-7) Close up, headway to lead over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong, eased close home, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp fll (5) pol in Oct beating Donnachies Girl (9-9) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
Nuits St Georges (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chasing leaders when edged right over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Sep beating Motahassen (9-0) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Bill Cody (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Led until over 2f out, rallied over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Icario (9-10) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
