towards rear, pushed along 3f out, struggling over 2f out
chased leaders, challenged over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, held when hampered inside final furlong, eased
mid-division, headway over 2f out, driven and pressing leaders inside final furlong, not much room briefly, lost 3rd close home
prominent, driven over 2f out, lost place over 1f out
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, never on terms
in rear, headway over 2f out, hampered inside final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders, challenged over 2f out, not much room briefly inside final furlong, held but kept on
prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon held, well beaten over 1f out
always towards rear
chased leaders, closed over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on
chased leaders, driven over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and well beaten over 2f out
led, headed over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, soon edged right, stayed on, went 3rd close home
awkward start, mid-division, not much room over 1f out, eased
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon held
chased leaders, ridden and not quicken 2f out, ran on inside final furlong
awkward start, towards rear, headway when not much room over 2f out, kept on, never dangerous
held up in mid-division, headway going well over 2f out, hampered inside final furlong, soon went 2nd, stayed on
Time to break out the lucky pin for a 22-runner sprint handicapper which has produced only one single-odds winner in the last nine years. A high draw tends to be a disadvantage here when the going is soft so 5f specialist Copper Knight looks up against it from stall 16 and Gulliver – who is seeking a third straight victory in the contest - Just Frank, Mondammej and Verhoyen are others who might struggle. The strong-travelling Mr Wagyu wasn’t quite at his best when only fourth behind Nomadic Empire here last time. He is only a pound better off with the winner but can’t be left out of calculations. Staxton came right back to form when beating a big field in the Ayr Silver Cup three weeks ago but COMMANCHE FALLS didn’t do a lot wrong when seventh in the Ayr Gold Cup and the Stewards’ Cup winner may be capable of reversing that form with Mr Wagyu on better terms. Punchbowl Flyer has had a good season and has his ground so can reverse Windsor running in August with Capote's Dream. Ado McGuiness has sent over Listed winner Laugh A Minute and any market support would be significant.
Commanche Falls 13-2 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside last, not pace to challenge, 7th of 24, 5 1/2l behind Bielsa (9-1) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Punchbowl Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Chased leaders out wide, every chance 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Vadream (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Oct.
Gulliver 14-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, switched left, one pace thereafter, 13th of 24, 8 1/4l behind Bielsa (9-1) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Nomadic Empire (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Held up in mid-division, good headway between horses 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at York 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Chairmanoftheboard (9-0) by shd, 10 ran.
Copper Knight (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Led, shaken up over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, caught final strides, 2nd of 10, hd behind Mondammej (9-0) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Mr Lupton (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden 3f out, gradually faded, 20th of 24, 11 1/2l behind Bielsa (9-1) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Popmaster (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, gradually faded, 17th of 24, 8 3/4l behind Bielsa (9-1) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Mr Wagyu (IRE) 3-1fav (9-9) Led, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd soon after, weakened, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Nomadic Empire (9-8) at York 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Just Frank 15-2 (9-2) Led, headed 2f out, soon ridden, weakened quickly well over 1f out, 22nd of 24, 14 1/4l behind Bielsa (9-1) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Snash (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, soon hung right and weakened, 14th of 15, 15 3/4l behind Silent Escape (8-11) at Newbury 7f lst stks (1) gs in Sep.
Volatile Analyst (USA) 28-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened inside last, 12th of 24, 7 1/2l behind Bielsa (9-1) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Staxton 25-1 (9-6) Prominent on far rail, ridden 3f out, pressed leader 2f out, kept on well to lead near finish, won at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Soldier's Minute (9-7) by hd, 24 ran.
Snazzy Jazzy (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Outpaced, 6th of 8, 8l behind Tis Marvellous (9-3) at Ascot 5f lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Mondammej 4-1jfav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on to lead final strides, won at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gf in Sep beating Copper Knight (9-5) by hd, 10 ran.
Air Raid 33-1 (9-0) Raced far side, restless in stalls, chased group leader until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 13th of 21, 11 1/2l behind Rohaan (9-8) at Ascot 6f hcp stks (2) sft in Jun.
Rathbone 22-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 10th of 24, 6 3/4l behind Staxton (9-6) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Magical Spirit (IRE) 13-2 (9-9) Prominent far side, ridden over 2f out, every chance 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 24, 2 1/4l behind Staxton (9-6) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Verhoyen 9-2 (9-6) Pushed along early, soon chased leaders on stands' side, pushed along in 5th 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Strong Johnson (9-6) at Tipperary 5f sft in Aug.
Boardman 20-1 (9-9) Towards rear, ridden halfway, never on terms, 12th of 24, 8 1/2l behind Staxton (9-6) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Strike Red (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Towards rear, headway between horses 2f out, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 9, hd behind Bickerstaffe (9-5) at Ascot 6f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Laugh A Minute 15-2 (9-7) In rear, last 2f out, short of room 1 1/2f out, 11th and short of room 1f out, unable to find racing room inside final furlong, stayed on well into 4th last strides, unlucky, 4th of 15, 1 1/4l behind That's Mad (8-11) at Curragh 5f hcp gd in Sep.
Capote's Dream (IRE) 4-1jfav (8-7) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, just got up, won at Windsor 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Treacherous (8-5) by shd, 14 ran.
