dwelt, soon in touch, smooth headway to lead over 2f out, pushed clear over 1f out, comfortably
held up, raced wide paddock end, outpaced over 3f out, never on terms
held up mid-division, headway 4f out, effort 3f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong, no chance with winner
led, driven and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, driven and outpaced over 4f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, soon in touch, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, ridden and no impression approaching final furlong
in rear, outpaced over 6f out, never dangerous
raced keenly in touch, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, no impression
Alfie Flits, Virgin Islands and Maysoor are the three to look at here, and preference is for Virgin Islands, whose Folkestone second has been given a massive boost. Alfie Flits has not raced on the Flat but Alan Swinbank's charge will still have plenty of supporters. He won bumper contests at Wetherby, Southwell and Carlisle before being sent off favourite for the national hunt flat race at Aintree's Grand National meeting, finishing a close fourth. He must be respected, but he may be tapped for toe over this sharp one and a half miles trip, and encounters faster rivals here. Hamdan Al Maktoum will already be resigned to the fact that Maysoor will not be a classic winner, but he must have been desperately disappointed that the colt has not managed a place in his two starts to date. Mark Johnston's runners are to be noted at the track, but Maysoor needs to improve significantly to play a part in the finish here. Virgin Islands looks an attractive proposition here. Trained by the bang in form Michael Jarvis, she chased home John Dunlop's Time On at Folkestone. That effort looked even better when Time On won the Cheshire Oaks decisively. After two runners-up spots, Virgin Islands is taken to make it third time lucky.
Alfie Flits 9-4fav (10-9) Mid-division, headway over 6f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 4th of 22, 1 1/2l behind Pangbourne (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr (N.Hun.
Industrial Star (IRE) 66-1 (9-8) Behind, headway over 3f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 13, 13l behind Consular (8-7) at Haydock 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gd in Jun.
Riodan (IRE) 7-2 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 6f out, ridden 3f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final 50 yards, all out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nhf (6) gd beating Action Strasse (10-9) by 3/4l, 14 ran (N.Hunt).
Celtic Jig (IRE) 40-1 (8-7) Steadied at start, held up, never a factor, 5th of 6, well behind Aspasias Tizzy (8-2) at Thirsk 1m 4f mdn stk (5) frm.
Every Inch (IRE) 125-1 (9-3) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, soon beaten, last of 12, 32l behind Balanced Budget (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf.
Maysoor 14-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 4f out, headway 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 8, 10l behind Kassiopeia (8-12) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Intavac Girl 200-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 14, well behind Grain of Truth (8-11) at Ripon 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gd.
Virgin Islands (IRE) 11-8fav (9-0) Always prominent, chased winner over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Time On (9-0) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo mdn fll (5) gs in Apr.
