held up and behind, headway on inside final 2f, edged right and kept on same pace final furlong, nearest finish
narrow lead, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out and weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
tracked leaders, hard ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
pulled hard, soon with leaders, weakened quickly over 4f out and eased
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, effort 2f out, hard ridden and weakened over 1f out
pulled hard in touch, ridden to chase leader well over 1f out, led narrowly well inside final furlong and kept on well
held up in rear, effort 2f out, one pace
tracked leaders, led going well well over 1f out, ridden and headed well inside final furlong, kept on
with leaders, every chance 2f out, carried head high and looked reluctant under pressure and weakened over 1f out
A smashing opener to the card, with many in with a chance, but we like the look of Island Light. Raised seven pounds for an emphatic Pontefract win, he can still be competitive off his revised rating. Gilded Dancer has been a revelation this season, winning his last four races, including a valuable handicap over course and distance on July 27. He may yet have more to come. Faithful Warrior's second to Lady Bear at Goodwood showed that he too is on the upgrade. He is, however, four pounds worse off for the two-and-a-half lengths he beat Surprise Encounter at York on July 11. Goblet Of Fire is actually five pounds better off for the three lengths that he beat the selection at Windsor on June 1, but the ten-furlong trip would have suited him better on that occasion. Calcutta is also better off with the selection on their Pontefract form, being eleven pounds better off for six lengths. King's Ironbridge is falling in the ratings but has been out of form for a while. Muchea is six pounds better off for the four-and-a-half lengths he was beaten by Faithful Warrior at York on July 11, so things should be closer between them. Best of the others might prove to be Pentecost, who tends to run well here -winning the Britannia Stakes in 2002 and having been placed in this year's Hunt Cup. A competitive opener then, and Island Light is a sporting selection.