chased leader, led over 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, headed towards finish
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, ridden inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, held
chased leaders on outer, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
towards rear, headway on outer 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on to lead towards finish
in rear and pushed along, ridden well over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, headed over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
in rear, headway entering final furlong, ridden inside last, stayed on towards finish, just held close home
chased leaders, weakened approaching final furlong
chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, no extra towards finish
Nonrunner
In races of this lowly standard it often pays to side with recent good form and the trio of Decider, Artesium and THE HISTORY MAN fit that bill and we'll side with the last mentioned who looks weighted to reverse form with Decider after their last meeting. Yet to win on polytrack the selection has done enough on the surface to suggest he can break that duck. He's on a bit of form at the moment after finding just a couple too good last time here over the minimum trip and given his six pound weight swing with Decider, who won that race, he should reverse that result. Decider though has been on top form and there's little wrong with the lines coming out of his last two starts. He's perhaps better over five furlongs but has one over this far and is still very much a danger. Artesium's chance depends how well he comes out of an engagement at Kempton on Wednesday but he looks a leading player while Fatal Attraction is potentially well treated on his handicap bow. This tight contest sets the tone for the whole meeting and The History Man just about lands the vote.
Decider (USA) 4-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden to lead and edged right approaching final furlong, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol beating Monsieur Reynard (8-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Admiral Bond (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) In rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Decider (9-0) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol.
Towy Boy (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Held up, headway from 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 5th of 13, 6l behind Lithaam (8-5) at Chepstow 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
The History Man (IRE) 3-1fav (8-11) Towards rear, ridden halfway, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Decider (9-0) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol.
Castano 14-1 (8-7) Held up in rear, progress when not clear run over 1f out, switched left and kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Who's Winning (8-5) at Chepstow 6f clm stks (6) gd.
Gracie's Games 7-1 (9-0) Towards rear, hampered over 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 24l behind Night Affair (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f 2yo fll mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Well of Echoes 20-1 (8-4) Prominent on outside, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 9l behind Why Nee Amy (8-5) at Beverley 1m app stks (6) gf.
Miss Firefly 9-2 (8-10) Slowly into stride, behind, headway on stands side rail over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 7th of 13, 8l behind Lithaam (8-5) at Chepstow 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Rydal (USA) 14-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, brief effort 3f out, soon driven and weakened 2f out, 9th of 16, 13l behind Avoca Dancer (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-55 (6) gf in Jun.
Bahkov (IRE) 8-1 (8-6) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway on inside from over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 6th of 14, 3l behind Spring Secret (8-13) at Bath 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Aug.
Fatal Attraction 5-1 (8-10) Led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, weakened quickly, 6th of 11, 8l behind Half A Crown (9-4) at Newcastle 5f mdn stks (5) gs.
Dilli Dancer 20-1 (9-0) Led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 4l behind Straight Face (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Artesium 13-2 (9-2) Chased leaders over 4f, 11th of 13, 11l behind Straight Face (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
