tracked leaders and keen, led on bit 2f out, pushed clear inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
led, ridden when headed 2f out, faded
mid-division, ridden and switched right and headway 2f out to chase leaders, one pace final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, one pace
in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, one pace
always in rear
Humungous, Areyoutalkingtome, Count Trevisio and Gramm rate as interesting here, with the vote going to Areyoutalkingtome. Now, Dark Islander looked good when winning at Newmarket, but a six-pounds rise, and then a further two for a good subsequent run when fourth, make life a little harder. Desert Realm keeps getting punished by the handicapper for consistency, but Humungous is going in the opposite direction regarding ratings and could now be approaching the interesting stage. Areyoutalkingtome comes into things based on his narrow Chester defeat last time, although he has been raised three pounds for that. However, he was badly drawn there and finished with a flourish so looks set to go well this afternoon. Zato has yet to recapture her very good juvenile form, but the lightly-raced Count Trevisio was only just denied at Haydock last time and looks a major player form his mark too. If fit for his seasonal return, Gramm looks to hold more than four pounds of improvement based on his juvenile form - which is what he has been raised for a good Newmarket soft-ground win, and he gets a very good mention. Finally, Doctor Dash has a little to prove at present and Waterline Twenty is hard to fancy from out of the weights. All of which returns us to the selection , which is Areyoutalkingtome.
Dark Islander (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-0) Keen early, held up, headway over 2f out, soon drifted left, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Prince of Light (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Aug.
Desert Realm (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, soon edged left, weakened over 2f out, 15th of 17, 48l behind Topatoo (8-9) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Humungous (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 16, 9l behind Road To Love (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Areyoutalkingtome 50-1 (10-0) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 14, hd behind Inter Vision (9-11) at Chester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug.
Zato (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Held up near side, ridden over 2f out and no impression, soon weakened, 11th of 16, 16l behind Dunelight (9-2) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Gramm 11-2 (9-3) Raced stand side, chased leader, ridden 2f out, edged left and led well inside final furlong, all out, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo hcp 0-95 (4) sft in Oct beating London Express (8-10) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Doctor Dash 50-1 (9-0) In touch near side, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 12th of 16, 17l behind Dunelight (9-2) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Waterline Twenty (IRE) 20-1 (8-0) Mid-division, not much room and lost place after 1f, soon behind, 14th of 16, 8l behind Ordnance Row (8-8) at Chester 1m hcap (2) gd in Aug.
