very slowly away, tailed off, never a factor
tracked leaders, chased winner over 4f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 5f out, weakened over 3f out
tracked leader, led 8f out, ridden clear over 3f out, stayed on
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong
pulled hard, held up in touch, hadway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong
close up, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden and lost place 6f out
mid-division, smooth headway to go 3rd 4f out, ridden 2f out, found little, soon weakened
held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, kept on one pace from over 2f out
led, headed 8f out, chased winner until over 4f out
in rear, never near leaders
slowly into stride, raced wide, some headway 5f out, weakened over 3f out
SAFIN is worth another chance at this trip and is selected in preference to Stravita and Bienheureux. As a multiple winner, the last named has cleared his debts and owes nobody anything. However, he is also hard to get right, so will always be a tricky customer to side with. Stravita, who won here on her penultimate start, is also unpredictable and her inexperienced rider will need to make her own luck in running. Still, the filly is unexposed at the distance, so there may be grounds for each-way support in a weak race like this. However, with the presence of Blue Hills likely to ensure they go a good gallop, events may unfold to suit Safin, who has very few miles on the clock for one of his age and, as he is overdue a change of fortune; persevering with the nine-year-old can pave the route to reward if he is ridden with a little more restraint today.
Cumbrian Knight (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Jumped left at start, always rear division, 12th of 14, well behind Hi Dancer (10-6) at Southwell 2m amt hcp (6) fbs.
Stravita 3-1jt-fav (10-11) Towards rear, ridden along and headway over 4f, one pace final 2f, 5th of 14, 24l behind Hi Dancer (10-6) at Southwell 2m amt hcp (6) fbs.
Snowberry Hill (USA) 15-2 (8-12) Soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Zuwaar (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Blue Hills 17-2 (9-10) Chased leader, took closer order over 8f out, led over 4f out, headed 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 8l behind Sabancaya (8-13) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Spume (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Mid-division, kept on from over 1f out, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Boundless Prospect (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f clm (6) pol.
Safin (GER) 9-2 (9-2) Towards rear, never dangerous, last of 10, 31l behind Dansilver (9-7) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Global Traffic 25-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, chased leaders final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 14, 4l behind Granary Girl (8-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Blandford Flyer 33-1 (9-0) Always behind, 13th of 14, 27l behind Blacktoft (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct '06.
Bienheureux 17-2 (8-4) Towards rear, ridden along over 4f, headway over 2f, ran on final furlong, nearest at finish, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Merrion Tiger (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Ashmolian (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up, headway halfway, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 41l behind That Look (9-12) at Yarmouth 2m hcap (5) gd in Sept.
Bulberry Hill 33-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden 6f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 46l behind Casual Garcia (8-9) at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Just Serenade 11-2co-fav (9-1) Led, ridden approaching 3f out, headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 3l behind Zahunda (9-2) at W'hampton 1m mdn fll hcp 0-65 (F) fbs in Jul '03.
Que Beauty (IRE) 40-1 (7-9) Towards rear, ridden and headway on outer over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 10, 9l behind Dansilver (9-7) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Rivington Pike (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Towards rear, never dangerous, 14th of 17, 15l behind Jackday (9-0) at Beverley 2m 3yo mdn hcp (6) gd in Jul.
