tracked leaders, chased leader over 3f out, kept on final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, staying on when not much room well inside final furlong
led early, remained close up, weakened well over 3f out
held up in touch, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 4f out
prominent, outpaced over 4f out, stayed on to chase leader over 3f out, led over 1f out, edged right well inside final furlong
always behind, tailed off over 3f out
prominent, lost place before halfway, tailed off
Nonrunner
Good recent form is a rarity among the nine that take to the track for this handicap but a selection must be made and it goes the way of ASTROLEO; Eightdaysaweek and Just Dan also make the shortlist of possible winners. The Mark Tompkins-trained selection has finished third in his last couple of races but looked impressive when seen over course and distance last time. His recent form stands out here and amongst this company, he should be capable of winning this. Eightdaysaweek was successful here over 1m3f just three outings ago and has put in some of his best career efforts over this course. His last effort was massively disappointing, bringing and end to a decent run of form. He should do well now returning to the venue of his sole success. Just Dan is yet to b eeven placed in five outings to date but looks very much an improved sort recently and can buck the trend here. Blue Tango, Nut Hand and Oke Bay are capable of putting pressure on the earlier mentioned but will need to progress a lot further if they are to get the better of our selection, Astroleo.
Blue Tango (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 6l behind Drop The Hammer (8-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Oke Bay 25-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, lost place 5f out, pushed along over 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 8l behind Harlestone Snake (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 6f (5) gd in Jun.
Nut Hand (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Mid-division, lost place over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, no impression, 5th of 14, 7l behind Sparkaway (8-2) at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Just Dan 33-1 (8-13) Led after 1f briefly, chased leader until 6f out, ridden well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 9l behind Jeronimo Joe (8-13) at Warwick 1m 3f 3yo sll (6) gd.
Astroleo 9-2 (8-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, staying on when not much room towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Shaylee (9-6) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Fire Me Gun 50-1 (7-11) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 9th of 13, 13l behind Spartan Prince (8-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Diktaram 22-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 19l behind Captain Flack (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo sell stks (6) pol in Jun.
Eightdaysaweek 12-1 (7-12) Always towards rear, 11th of 12, 38l behind Sherman Mccoy (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in May.
Mister Frosty (IRE) 18-1 (8-9) Tracked leader until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 7l behind Atacama Sunrise (8-7) at Yarmouth 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
