chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
with leader until weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, headway to challenge over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear, stumbled badly over 3f out, not recover
held up, headway 2f out, soon ridden, ran on to lead inside final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden, headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
Bessemer has won three of his last four starts but they have all been in claimers and the four-year-old may struggle to score again back in a handicap so preference is for another in-form horse Instructor, who gets the vote ahead of Tony Tie. The selection has won his last two starts and has gone up another 4lbs for the latest of them at Carlisle but remains feasibly well treated and the front-running gelding is taken to defy the handicapper again. Easibet Dot Net won here over a furlong extra last month and has to be respected off a 4lb higher mark but this looks a tougher contest and Ian Semple's gelding may be best watched. Thistle is held by the last mentioned on their running here last time, while Liberty Seeker has given little sign of encouragement of late and of more interest may be the nine-year-old Tony Tie, who is slipping to an attractive mark. Instructor has an obvious chance though and he gets the vote.
Easibet Dot Net 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, headway 3f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, held on under pressure, won at Ayr 1m 3f hcp (5) gf in Jul beating Bright Sun (8-8) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Instructor 7-2fav (9-12) Made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Carlisle 1m 1f hcp (5) gf in Jul beating Champain Sands (8-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Thistle 5-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Easibet Dot Net (9-1) at Ayr 1m 3f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Bessemer (JPN) 4-5fav (9-3) Tracked leader, smooth headway to lead over 3f, soon ridden, drew clear, won at Hamilton 1m clm (6) gf in Jul beating Simplify (8-11) by 5l, 6 ran.
Tony Tie 11-4fav (9-6) Held up, ridden over 3f out, headway from over 1f out, not reach leaders, 4th of 11, 2l behind Anthemion (8-5) at Ayr 1m hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Liberty Seeker (FR) 11-2 (8-0) Tracked leaders, headway 3f out, led over 2f out to over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 4th of 7, 6l behind Most Definitely (9-1) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
United Spirit (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Pulled hard, hampered after 1f, held up, headway and not clear from over 1f out, switched left, snatched up near finish, 9th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Otago (10-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
