in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
in touch in rear, pushed along and switched left over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders, chased winner 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out
close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked winner until pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
made all, ridden 4 lengths clear entering final furlong, ran on
Mikmak is the only course and distance winner in the line-up and is 4lb lower than when scoring on heavy going at Haydock last August. Daafr has also won on the latter track but that was on fast ground and his other three victories have been on the all-weather. Olympic Conqueror scored on heavy going at Redcar in October and completed a Kempton double earlier this year so should go well while Smeaton's mid-summer double at Hamilton came on soft going but both victories came in Class 6 handicaps. GULF OF POETS is on a very long losing run but the handicapper has finally given him a chance and with the ground in his favour he's taken to gain the eighth victory of his career on his 40th start. El Picador was unlucky in-running at Beverley and will appreciate the softer ground.
Gulf Of Poets 14-1 (9-11) Mid-division, pushed along to challenge 2f out, plugged on one pace final furlong, 8th of 15, 3 3/4l behind Our Girl Sheila (8-3) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Mikmak 20-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, mid-division, struggling over 2f out, 11th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Top Rank (9-13) at Thirsk 1m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Olympic Conqueror (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Chased leaders on outside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance until winner quickened on inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards, 7th of 13, 4l behind Snow Ocean (9-8) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
El Picador (IRE) 15-2 (9-9) Chased leaders on inside, keeping on same pace when not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, stayed on, 5th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Regal Mirage (9-6) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Smeaton (IRE) 10-3 (9-8) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Wondrous Words (9-4) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Daafr (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Headway to soon lead, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Tafish (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Termonator 33-1 (8-9) Raced in midfield, ridden and headway 3f out, every chance 2f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 15, 3l behind Our Girl Sheila (8-3) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Delph Crescent (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Pushed into clear lead, 8 lengths clear 3f out, ridden on near rail 2f out, weakened and headed over 1f out, no extra, 7th of 14, 12 3/4l behind Snookered (10-13) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (5) sft in Aug.