steadied start, held up in rear but in touch, smooth headway to chase leader over 1f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, just doing enough to hold
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, challenging when hung left inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
close up, ridden 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
keen, tracked leader after 2f, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on
DARK PROSPECT is given the vote to land the finale at the expense of Dr Livingstone and Best Prospect. The selection has been a model of consistency this season winning once and rarely being out of the frame. He has been unlucky not to have won again but showed true grit when second on each of his last two starts and if he can recapture that form and with conditions to suit he will prove tough to beat this time around. Dr Livingstone has won at Salisbury and Sandown this season but ran poorly off his current mark at Bath last time out. That said his stable have had a few winners of late though so any market moves should be noted. Best Prospect has top weight to lump around which will not make life any easier and has to have soft conditions to see him at his very best so any further rain will be most welcome as far as he is concerned. So for the winner we return to Dark Prospect.
Best Prospect (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, never near leaders, 7th of 11, 10l behind First Avenue (8-9) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) sft.
Dr Livingstone (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, no impression, 7th of 11, 7l behind Safari Sunup (9-0) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Buddy Holly 11-2 (8-13) Tracked leader, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 5l behind Dar Es Salaam (8-9) at Newbury 1m 2f hcap (4) gd in Sept.
Dragon Slayer (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Took keen hold in 3rd, went 2nd 4f out until weakened rapidly over 1f out, 13th of 17, 18l behind Alsadaa (10-5) at Ascot 1m 4f amt hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sept.
Dark Prospect 6-4fav (8-10) Prominent, chased winner over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, nk behind Mahadee (8-10) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
El Diego (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, 9th over 2f out, headway into 6th 1f out, ran on well final furlong, 4th of 10, 1l behind Davidii (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f stk std in Oct '07.
Quince (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Mid-division, struggling 3f out, edged left over 2f out, last of 11, 23l behind The Last Drop (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Woolfall Blue (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 13l behind Higgy's Boy (9-6) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sept.
