slowly in to stride, always in rear
prominent, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-divsion, ridden 2 out, weakend final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace
mid-dividsion, pushed and headway over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
mid-divison, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
always in rear
slowly into stride, soon chasing leadsers, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, eased final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, driven over 2f out, some late headway, never near to challenge
switched right after 1f, towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong
prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
prominent, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, led appraoching final furlong, ridden and kept on
towards rear, effort over 2f out, no impression
led, ridden over 1f out, headed approaching final furling, no extra inside final furlong
chased to leaders to halfway
Several have claims in this competitive sprint handicap including recent Yarmouth winner Royal Challenge, the three-year-old Bowness and Richard Fahey's Kings College Boy but the vote goes to Bo McGinty, who is taken to confirm recent course and distance form with Artie. The last mentioned made a bold bid to make all the running at the Ebor meeting in a similar contest but was worn down close home, eventually finishing a close fifth behind Fictional. Tim Easterby's gelding is now 1lb better in with the second there Bo McGinty but that should not be enough to see him reverse form with Richard Fahey's gelding, who responded well to first time blinkers that day and has slipped to a fair mark. He is taken to go one better today. Kieren Fallon rides Yorkshire Blue for the first time since successful on the same horse at Haydock three starts ago and he has to be respected along with Danzig River, who looks to be running into a bit of form now. His trainer David Nicholls also saddles Hiccups, the mount of Adrian Nicholls, and he is another to consider although a bigger threat may come from Royal Challenge. A 5lb rise for his latest success at Yarmouth leaves the Mark Tompkins-trained gelding with more to do now though. Bowness faces no easy task against older and more experienced rivals, while Kings College Boy is consistent but tends to find at least one too good and a better bet looks to be Bo McGinty, who can take advantage of a favourable mark.
Artie 12-1 (8-4) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 20, 1l behind Fictional (8-11) at York 6f hcp (2) gd.
Bo McGinty (IRE) 20-1 (8-1) With leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 20, 1/2l behind Fictional (8-11) at York 6f hcp (2) gd.
Danzig River (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-7) Made most far side, ridden over 1f out, kept on, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Effective (8-12) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) sft.
Imperial Echo (USA) 7-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Romany Nights (9-0) at Epsom 6f stk 0-80 (4) gd.
Royal Challenge 7-2jt-fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, raced centre, held up, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Yarmouth 6f hcp (5) gd beating Mimic (7-12) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Steel Blue 28-1 (8-7) Chased leaders stands' side, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 12th of 23, 10l behind Ice Planet (8-7) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs.
Armagnac 17-2 (8-5) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 8l behind Serre Chevalier (8-10) at Chester 7f hcp (3) gf.
Pomfret Lad 7-2fav (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 7l behind Currency (9-4) at Haydock 6f hcp (4) gf.
Word Perfect 50-1 (8-10) Always towards rear far side group, 11th of 15, 8l behind Inter Vision (8-11) at Ripon 6f hcp (3) gd.
Hiccups 14-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, not clear run over 1f out, soon ridden, not quicken towards finish, 5th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Currency (9-4) at Haydock 6f hcp (4) gf.
Circuit Dancer (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) In touch, not clear run from 2f out to inside final furlong, never dangerous, 6th of 10, 7l behind Currency (9-4) at Haydock 6f hcp (4) gf.
Bowness 11-4 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, stayed on to go 2nd well inside final furlong, finished well, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Matsunosuke (9-3) at Sandown 5f 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Nistaki (USA) 15-2 (9-1) Held up, ridden 2f out, headway and switched right over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, hung left and kept on, won at Redcar 6f stk 0-65 (5) gd beating Golden Asha (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Kings College Boy 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, driven 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 6, 6l behind Undeterred (9-9) at Catterick 6f stk 0-70 (5) gf.
Balakiref 4-1jt-fav (8-11) Held up far side, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong to take 2nd post, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Effective (8-12) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) sft.
Desert Opal 12-1 (9-8) Behind, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 7, 10l behind Nanton (9-3) at Nottingham 1m stk 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Sir Nod 6-1 (9-3) Led, ridden well over 1f out, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, hd behind African Breeze (8-10) at Pontefract 6f 3yo hcp (5) gd.
Yorkshire Blue 5-1 (8-13) In touch, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Fullandby (9-6) at Ayr 6f hcp (4) gf.
Mister Sweets 100-1 (7-8) Tracked leaders, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 11th of 20, 3l behind Fictional (8-11) at York 6f hcp (2) gd.
Downland (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, not much room and lost place over 1f out, 7th of 11, 6l behind Ballycroy Girl (8-7) at Ayr 7f hcp (5) gf.
