tracked leader until over 5f out, ridden, outpaced and dropped to last over 4f out, eased briefly over 2f out, rallied and stayed on to take poor 3rd inside final furlong
soon led and set sound pace, ridden and headed 3f out, soon edged left, lost 2nd over 2f out and soon weakened
held up in 5th, headway to dispute 3rd over 6f out, ridden and bumped entering straight, beaten when hung right from over 1f out
raced in 3rd, went 2nd over 5f out, closed to lead 3f out, came well clear final 2f, stayed on strongly, ridden out
held up and mostly in 4th, went 3rd and bumped entering straight, ridden and went 2nd over 2f out, edged right from over 1f out, never any chance with winner
Not one winning favourite in the past ten years but only one winner bigger than 8/1 since 1999. We will try and buck the trend with likely favourite PATKAI who is preferred to 2007 winner Tungsten Strike. The selection is a course and distance winner who was progressive last season. The Indian Ridge colt disappointed on his final start but the ground may have been against him and we fancy him to get back to winning ways on ground that suits. If it emerges that he may need the run then it may pay dividends to side with Tungsten Strike, Amanda Perrett's eight-year-old. Daryll Holland knows him well and is reunited with the strong stayer this afternoon; the horse goes on any ground. Macorville returns from a 557 day absence and the fairytale ending appears unlikely, whilst Baddam has been regressing and only looks to be making up the numbers. Young Mick is popular but ultimately not too financially rewarding for supporters, so of more interest may be Mischief Making. Ed Dunlop¿s filly is stepped up in trip for this seasonal reappearance and this progressive filly needs to have continued her progress during her time off. This looks a good opportunity for Patkai to continue the good form of the stable.
Baddam 50-1 (9-1) Mid-division until weakened over 2f out, 30th of 32, well behind Caracciola (9-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcap (2) gd in Oct.
Tungsten Strike (USA) 8-1 (9-6) Led, driven and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 8, well behind Metaphoric (9-3) at Ascot 2m Listed stks (1) gd in Sep.
Young Mick 6-1 (9-4) Towards rear, switched right over 3f out, headway over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 9, 14l behind Tastahil (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 4f stks (2) gd in Mar.
Patkai (IRE) 8-11fav (8-12) Held up last, headway on outside 3f out, tracked leading pair and hung right 2f out, ridden and beaten when hung right 1f out, 4th of 5, 4 1/2l behind Centennial (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Aug.
Mischief Making (USA) 16-1 (8-11) Steadied start, held up in rear, stayed on steadily final 2f, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 10l behind Dansant (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo Listed stks (1) pol in Nov.
Macorville (USA) 7-1 (9-0) Raced keenly, soon prominent, pushed along 6f out, weakened over 4f out, virtually pulled up, last of 33, well behind Leg Spinner (8-11) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcap (2) gs in Oct '07.
