mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 4f out, one pace final 2f
held up, never on terms
chased leaders, led over 4f out, ridden, headed inside final furlong
chased leaders, effort over 3f out, every chance 2f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden, lost place halfway, soon well behind
in rear, ridden, one pace final 3f
in rear, headway over 2f out, hard ridden to lead inside final furlong
led, ridden, headed over 4f out, soon well behind
chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, one pace final 2f
slowly into stride, soon ridden, never troubled leaders
in rear, ridden, effort over 4f out, soon one pace
in rear, ridden halfway, soon well behind
This is very open looking with no stand out contenders, but it could go the way of Love Empire. Black Falcon and Tykie Two are also worthy of consideration, and are both course and distance winners. Love Empire has yet to find the winners' enclosure, probably partly as he's been slowly away in some of his races, but being stepped up in trip does give him time to make up ground if that happens again. He's gaining a lot of weight from some of his rivals here, and Mark Johnston's only runner on the card could more than repay the fuel costs in taking him to the track. Black Falcon returns to racing in a handicap following three runs in sellers, two of which he won, but 10 stone may be too much to carry around. Tykie Two was a 100 to 1 winner here in a similar contest 3 months ago, but don't expect anything like that price today. Wizard Looking was runner up in that race after getting no luck in running, and will be looking to reverse the placings. But we're going to stick with Love Empire.
Black Falcon (IRE) 15-8fav (8-11) Raced wide mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, ridden and one pace, 5th of 14, 8l behind Nawamees (9-7) at Leicester 1m 4f clm (5) gd.
Wizard Looking 3-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 14, 6l behind Spanish Conquest (9-0) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
High Command 22-1 (8-7) Held up in touch, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 19l behind Amanda Carter (8-11) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Parkview Love (USA) 20-1 (9-8) Held up behind leaders, effort when not much room and switched left 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 9, 2l behind Fossgate (9-9) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Bolckow 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, chased leaders over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 15, 15l behind Mad Professor (10-5) at Chepstow 1m 4f amt hcp (6) gf.
Farsighted 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, lost place over 6f out, behind final 4f, last of 9, well behind Si Belle (9-7) at Yarmouth 1m 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Highland Homestead 7-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never a factor, 6th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Mahadee (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gf.
Swords 14-1 (8-8) In touch, chased leader 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on well final furlong, ridden out, won at W'hampton 2m 1f app hcp (6) pol beating Spanish Conquest (9-5) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Coco L'Escargot 25-1 (8-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place before halfway, soon struggling and well behind, 6th of 7, 33l behind Susie May (9-4) at Brighton 1m 4f hcap (6) gf in May.
Diktatorship (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Soon led, ridden and headed approaching 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 17l behind Young Scotton (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Love Empire (USA) 12-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride and held up, ridden over 4f out, no impression, 4th of 5, 14l behind Aleatricis (8-13) at Hamilton 1m 3f 3yo hcp (6) gd.
Iron Cross (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon driven up into mid-division on inside, ridden, in rear 4f out and soon struggling, 10th of 15, 30l behind Tripod Molly (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) frm in Jun.
Dareios (GER) 200-1 (8-10) Pulled hard, led, headed over 8f out, remained in touch, ridden 4f out, beaten from 3f out, tailed off, last of 4, 39l behind Pampas Cat (9-3) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo stk (3) gd.
Tykie Two 9-1 (8-11) Ridden to lead, driven over 5f out, headed over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 14, 29l behind Spanish Conquest (9-0) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
