midfield, niggled 4f out, hard ridden 3f out, stayed on steadily
held up in rear, progress on outside to challenge 2f, ridden entering final furlong, could not get to winner
quickly away and tracked leader, nudged 3f out, ridden 2f out when outpaced, plugged on
broke well and soon led, steadily quickened tempo and kicked clear 2f out, kept on strongly under hands and heels, comfortably
slowly away and towards rear, smooth headway 3f out, asked to quicken 2f out, stayed on at the one pace
tracked leaders, pushed 3f out, ridden 2f out, never threatened
Sarvi won this in 2018 but could only manage fifth last year while stablemate Sister Midnight is fitted with a tongue-tie having yet to win a handicap. Sootability represents last year’s winning yard but has struggled since winning at Haydock earlier while Ursulina is unexposed though has yet to race over this far. The remaining pair made winning starts in handicaps with Salsada scoring at Haydock and raised 3lb while WONDROUS WORDS (NAP) returned an easy winner at Redcar. The latter has a 9lb hike to contend with but an apprentice’s allowance helps in that regard and Roger Varian has an impressive strike rate here with three-year-old runners.
Ursulina (IRE) 100-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, never on terms, 11th of 13, 7 1/4l behind First Winter (9-2) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Wondrous Words (IRE) 3-1 (9-4) Keen early, prominent, led 9f out, headed over 7f out, led again over 2f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Aug beating Ours Puissant (9-8) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sootability (IRE) 40-1 (9-8) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Pitcher's Point (9-8) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Salsada (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Made most, headed briefly halfway, ridden over 1f out, idled inside final furlong, won at Haydock 1m 2f hcp fll (3) sft in Sep beating Alpine Mistral (8-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Sister Midnight (IRE) 18-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 14 3/4l behind Salsada (8-10) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp fll (3) sft in Sep.
Sarvi 16-1 (9-5) Slowly away, tracked leaders after 2f out, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and short of room over 1f out, soon edged left, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Viceregent (9-1) at Hamilton 1m 3f hcp (5) sft in Sep.