switched far side, prominent, weakened 2f out
chased leaders stands side group, effort and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders far side group, ridden and no extra over 1f out
held up stands side group, ridden halfway, never dangerous
mid-division far side group, headway to lead that group inside final furlong, no chance with stands side
tracked leaders far side group, stayed on final 2f
tehind far side group, stayed on over 1f out, nearest at finish
behind stands side group, never dangerous
prominent stands side group, effort 2f out, edged left and stayed on final furlong
held up stands side group, headway 2f out, led that group inside final furlong, stayed on
led far side group, headed over 1f out, edged right and no extra
held up far side group, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
led stands side group, ridden well over 1f out, soon headed by that group, weakened final furlong
chased leaders stands side group, effort 2f out, weakened over 1f out
behind stands side group, effort over 2f out, never dangerous
chased stands side group, led that group over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
switched to race far side, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division stands side group, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up stands side group, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders far side group, led that group briefly inside final furlong, no extra
dwelt, held up far side group, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra
behind stands side group, stayed on 2f out, nearest at finish
always behind far side group
mid-division far side group, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
High numbers proved popular in the draw for this contest and the mud-loving Confuschias also proved popular in the market having secured box 26. Low numbers haven't fared too badly in recent years though and last year's winner Advanced looks to have a decent pitch in stall 3. Tajneed and Hogmaneigh will be other popular selections but we're going to take a chance with ISHETOO. Alan Dickman's colt returned from a seven week break to win a shade cosily over five furlongs on good ground at Musselburgh. His best form is over five furlongs despite his first win coming over course and distance and underfoot conditions are contrasting. However, he ran well on heavy ground on his last run before the break when not beaten far at York where Baby Strange was amongst those behind. He was also staying on strongly on that occasion and is a bigger price than his form deserves; he's well drawn and is worth an each-way interest. Confuchias finished fifth behind Tajneed, Valery Borzov and Tamagin in the Great St Wilfrid. He won the race on the stand's side so can probably be rated a little better than the bare form, he's drawn on the favoured side today and has the revised weights in his favour. He has an obvious chance. The Nicholls pair should go well again and both are drawn close enough to their respective rails for the draw not to be too much of a concern. Advanced is 5lbs lower than when winning last year's contest and looks primed to run another big race. Kevin Ryan's yard could hardly be in better form at present but heavy ground is a concern despite some fair efforts on soft. Hogmaneigh will be another popular selection but connections have concerns as to whether this sixth furlong will stretch him and he always needs plenty of luck in running so we're happy enough to side against him. Those are a few of the leading candidates with Ishetoo getting the nod.
Appalachian Trail (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Held up, effort 2f out, one pace when hampered over 1f out, 4th of 5, 5l behind Express Wish (8-13) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) sft.
Aahayson 14-1 (9-4) Mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 10l behind Green Manalishi (9-4) at Chester 6f lst stk (1) gd in Aug.
Hogmaneigh (IRE) 11-1 (9-6) Behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Doncaster 6f hcap (2) sft beating River Falcon (8-12) by a shd, 21 ran.
Advanced 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Look Busy (8-11) at Beverley 5f lst stk (1) sft in Aug.
Fonthill Road (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Soon ridden and outpaced, never troubled leaders, 6th of 8, 6l behind Look Busy (8-11) at Beverley 5f lst stk (1) sft in Aug.
Burnwynd Boy 25-1 (8-10) Held up, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 13, 10l behind Green Manalishi (9-4) at Chester 6f lst stk (1) gd in Aug.
Knot In Wood (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) In touch far side, ridden and weakened final furlong, 13th of 15, 7l behind African Rose (8-12) at Doncaster 6f Irish Derby (1) sft.
Valery Borzov (IRE) 11-2fav (9-4) Prominent far side, ridden over 2f out, ran on final furlong, edged right close home, 2nd of 20, hd behind Tajneed (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Dhaular Dhar (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Chased leaders far side, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 20, 7l behind Tajneed (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Northern Fling 11-1 (9-6) Mid-division, weakened 2f out, 16th of 21, 7l behind Hogmaneigh (9-6) at Doncaster 6f hcap (2) sft.
Confuchias (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Chased leaders stands side, led group halfway, kept on final furlong, 5th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Tajneed (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Regal Parade 16-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 18, 7l behind Fifteen Love (8-12) at Goodwood 1m hcap (2) gf in Aug.
Tamagin (USA) 9-1 (9-5) Led, headed 3f out, one pace, 9th of 21, 3 1/2l behind Hogmaneigh (9-6) at Doncaster 6f hcap (2) sft.
Inter Vision (USA) 40-1 (9-2) Behind, stayed on final 2f, 10th of 21, 4l behind Hogmaneigh (9-6) at Doncaster 6f hcap (2) sft.
Indian Trail 50-1 (9-0) In touch towards centre, hanging right 2f out, effort over 1f out, soon weakened, 19th of 27, 11l behind Conquest (8-9) at Goodwood 6f hcap (2) gf in Aug.
Evens And Odds (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, weakened final furlong, 14th of 21, 6l behind Hogmaneigh (9-6) at Doncaster 6f hcap (2) sft.
Shifting Star (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Towards rear, good headway 2f out, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Warsaw (9-2) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Aug.
Ishetoo 9-2jt-fav (9-9) In touch, headway well over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong to lead final 75 yards, won at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug beating Princess Ellis (9-2) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Tajneed (IRE) 17-2 (8-12) In touch far side, ridden over 2f out, driven and ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on gamely, won at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug beating Valery Borzov (9-4) by a hd, 20 ran.
Raptor (GER) 14-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden halfway, never troubled leaders, 12th of 16, 9l behind Osteopathic Remedy (9-4) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Aug.
Baby Strange 6-1 (9-3) Mid-division far side, effort over 2f out, no impression, 10th of 20, 7l behind Tajneed (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Dabbers Ridge (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Soon outpaced, always behind, eased inside final 2f, last of 11, 45l behind Keep Discovering (9-5) at Chester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug.
Patavellian (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders far side, ridden over 2f out, driven, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 20, 5l behind Tajneed (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 28-1 (8-10) Towards rear stands side, never dangerous, 15th of 20, 10l behind Tajneed (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Skhilling Spirit 25-1 (8-7) Prominent, no impression when edged right inside final furlong, 8th of 22, 4 1/2l behind Zaahid (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gf in May.
Turnkey 7-1 (9-0) Behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, 4th of 14, 3l behind Geojimali (8-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gs in May.
River Falcon 14-1 (8-12) Behind, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 21, shd behind Hogmaneigh (9-6) at Doncaster 6f hcap (2) sft.
