slowly away, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong, never nearer
held up mid-division far side, headway well over 2f out, ridden and led over 1f out, headed inside last, kept on, no match for winner
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside last, not pace to challenge
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, switched left, one pace thereafter
prominent, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
prominent, ridden 3f out, gradually faded
fly jumped start, towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, faded final furlong
held up in rear, ridden 2f out, never involved
towards rear, headway well over 2f out, ridden to press leaders over 1f out, one pace
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, ran on well final furlong
tracked leader close up, lost position and weakened quickly over 2f out
tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on well inside last
prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened inside last
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened quickly 2f out
mid-division, ridden 2f out, gradually weakened
fly jumped start, raced alone on near side rail, chased leaders, ridden under 2f out, led inside last, kept on strongly
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, gradually faded
led, headed 2f out, soon ridden, weakened quickly well over 1f out
slowly away, towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, weakened under 1f out
towards rear, ridden 2f out, kept on, never on terms
slowly away, mid-division, ridden and weakened tamely 2f out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on, not pace to challenge
The Portland Handicap at Doncaster has proved a good trial for this in the past. Mr Wagyu led for a long way in that contest before weakening but Venturous never figured after missing the break yet again. Gulliver ran well in a big field at the Curragh last week and was only beaten a neck by Commanche Falls in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood earlier. In between, he finished last of four behind Great Ambassador in a Listed race at York but didn’t get any cover. The latter carries a penalty but may still be a step ahead of the handicapper, though stall one could be problematic. Ostilio has been drawn on the opposite side and is very interesting off a potentially-lenient mark while Volatile Analyst could go well at bigger odds for a stable that does well at this meeting. Just Frank got back to winning ways over this trip at Thirsk but POPMASTER continues to give the impression that he could be a bit better than a handicapper. He also shoulders 5lb extra but has shown the ability to quicken off a fast pace and connections will be hoping that the fitting of blinkers will bring about further improvement.
Summerghand (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Held up, pushed along 2f out, switched right 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on final furlong, 8th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Emaraaty Ana (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Great Ambassador 11-10fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and pressed leaders under 2f out, led under 1f out, drifted left but kept on well final furlong, won at York 6f lst stks (1) gf in Sep beating Tabdeed (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Commanche Falls 10-1 (9-1) Raced near side, held up headway chasing leaders over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, led towards finish, ran on, won at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul beating Gulliver (8-13) by nk, 24 ran.
Gulliver 18-1 (9-13) Held up in far side, ridden 2f out, 10th 1f out, kept on well, just held for 3rd, 4th of 22, 2 1/4l behind Big Gossey (8-11) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in Sep.
Brad The Brief 18-1 (9-10) Chased leaders on far side, under pressure 3f out, weakened from under 2f out, 19th of 20, 20 1/4l behind Justanotherbottle (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Mr Lupton (IRE) 28-1 (9-9) In rear of mid-division on far side, pushed along over 2f out and soon outpaced by leaders, appeared to lose action and weakened final furlong, 18th of 20, 14 1/2l behind Justanotherbottle (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Snazzy Jazzy (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) 4 bumped rival leaving stalls, mid-division, ridden and headway halfway, chased leader over 1f out, no extra well inside last, 7th of 22, 2 3/4l behind Copper Knight (8-12) at York 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Venturous (IRE) 18-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, never involved, 10th of 16, 4 1/4l behind Hurricane Ivor (9-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Fivethousandtoone (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led after two furlongs, pushed along 2f out, ridden and edged left when pressed over 1f out, headed under 1f out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 4, 3l behind Great Ambassador (9-2) at York 6f lst stks (1) gf in Sep.
Edraak (IRE) 11-4fav (9-12) Edged right start, chased leaders, driven over 1f out, held inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Regional (9-4) at Haydock 6f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Sunday Sovereign 5-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chester 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Gabrial The Devil (8-11) by 1l, 8 ran.
Pendleton 12-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden halfway, weakening when hampered well over 1f out, eased, 16th of 22, 5 1/2l behind Copper Knight (8-12) at York 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Mr Wagyu (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Slight lead until halfway, remained well there, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened towards finish, 6th of 16, 2 1/4l behind Hurricane Ivor (9-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Motagally 4-1 (9-12) Mid-division on outside, ridden and some headway over 2f out, every chance 1f out, no extra inside last, 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind Atalanta's Boy (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Volatile Analyst (USA) 8-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, hampered and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Motawaajed (9-2) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Above (FR) 50-1 (9-3) Raced far side, always about same place in mid-division, ridden and weakened final furlong, 7th of 21, 4 1/4l behind Rohaan (9-8) at Ascot 6f hcp stks (2) sft in Jun.
Hey Jonesy (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Raced far side and 4th in group, weakened, 10th of 24, 4 3/4l behind Commanche Falls (9-1) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Bielsa (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Raced alone in centre, well up with the pace, every chance 1f out, weakened inside final 100 yards, 6th of 24, 2 1/2l behind Commanche Falls (9-1) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Popmaster (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, led 1f out, ran on well, readily, won at Ascot 6f hcp (2) gf in Sep beating Royal Scimitar (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Just Frank 5-1 (9-9) Made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Thirsk 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Woven (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Lexington Dash (FR) 11-2 (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden and one pace over 2f out, never on terms, last of 7, 5 1/4l behind Popmaster (9-5) at Ascot 6f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Lahore (USA) 40-1 (9-3) Slowly away, mid-division, ridden well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 20th of 22, 6 3/4l behind Copper Knight (8-12) at York 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Ostilio 11-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, going well but plenty to do 2f out, headway when not clear run over 1f out and soon switched right, closed well inside final furlong, gaining at line, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Tis Marvellous (9-2) at Beverley 5f lst stks (1) gf in Aug.
Count D'Orsay (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders and squeezed through inside final furlong, kept on in 3rd towards finish, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Hurricane Ivor (9-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Chiefofchiefs 18-1 (9-1) Steadied start, held up in rear, never on terms, 6th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Summerghand (9-6) at Newmarket 6f lst stks (1) gf in Aug.