took keen hold, held up and always in rear
tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
held up, headway 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, no impression and lost 2nd on line
took keen hold in touch, pushed along 5f out, soon lost place and behind
in touch to halfway, weakened rapidly
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong
took keen hold and held up well in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on final furlong, took 2nd on line but no chance with winner
held up, headway when not clear run on inside rail over 2f out, and again over 1f out, switched left and stayed on final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
held up in touch, headway on inside over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
reluctant to race and always tailed off in rear
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
Con Horgan's Ocean Avenue was able to make all of the running to land a seemingly competitive Kempton handicap last month and, despite an 8lb rise, is taken to follow up at the main expense of Swift Tango and Pagan Dance. The last mentioned deserves to win a race of this nature having been placed in similarly tough handicaps at Epsom and Newmarket previously this term. However, like David Loder's York winner Balkan Knight, Amanda Perrett's gelding may want a softer surface. Top weight Counsel's Opinion, a winner here over 10 furlongs last October, may be in the grip of the handicapper at present, while the Lady Herries-trained Wunderwood may find this tougher than the classified stakes race that he won at Newmarket last time. A bigger threat is likely to come from Ed Dunlop's Swift Tango, who followed his Newbury success last month with a respectable second to Starry Lodge at Epsom on Derby day. Another 2lb rise since then is of concern though and preference is for Ocean Avenue, who was impressive at Kempton and is taken to follow up that success.