unseated rider leaving stalls
in touch, chased leaders from 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders until weakened over 2f out
held up, good headway on outside over 3f out, soon edged right, led 2f out, carried right, soon in command final furlong
held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reached leaders
chased leaders until weakened over 2f out
always behind, tailed off
always behind
held up, effort over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, no danger
held up, headway inside final 2f, kept on final furlong but not reached leaders
prominent, chased winner from 2f out, no impression final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
led, headed 2f out, soon weakened
never better than mid-division
behind until some late headway over 1f out
chased leader to 2f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Platinum Charmer, Mr Belvedere and Brave Dane form the shortlist here and we take the last named to prevail. Tony Carroll's eight-year-old in is decent form, having landed banded contests at Kempton over this trip on his last two starts. He has handled fast ground well over the sticks so there is every reason to believe he will do so on the level, this is his optimum trip and he is full of confidence at present so he is just taken to complete the hat trick, despite an imminent drop in the ratings. Platinum Charmer is an obvious danger making the long trip down from the north, and he too has points of recommendation. As a c&d winner we know he acts on the track, and he is happy on just about any surface. However, he is definitely better over further than this, and he had never won off such a high mark, so he is opposed. Mr Belvedere was another banded winner last time out, that success coming over a mile at Lingfield. However, he clearly looks better suited by that trip and struggles over further, so we will take him on. Seattle Robber is consistent in finding a couple too good and needs to drop in the weights, while Didoe's two wins have both come here and the mare is back on one of those winning marks, so we may see a decent run this time. Preference however is for Brave Dane who is in form and gets the vote.
Seattle Robber 13-2 (9-13) In touch, ridden over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 11, 6l behind Scotty's Future (9-12) at Beverley 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (5) gs.
Platinum Charmer (IRE) 4-1fav (9-11) Chased leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 17l behind Scotty's Future (9-12) at Beverley 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (5) gs.
Cormorant Wharf (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Held up, never a factor, 6th of 10, 13l behind Takes Tutu (8-10) at Brighton 1m hcap (5) frm in Apr.
Liberty Run (IRE) 5-1 (8-2) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 13, 18l behind Platinum Charmer (8-1) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Nov.
Gingko 8-1 (8-7) Held up, ridden 4f out, never in contention, 9th of 11, 8l behind Tabadul (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcap (4) std.
Brave Dane (IRE) 6-4fav (9-8) Steadied start, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, led final half furlong, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) std beating Cottingham (8-12) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Gallego 10-1 (8-11) Held up, came wide entering straight, stayed on inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 5l behind The Bonus King (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol in Apr.
Mr Belvedere 9-2 (8-8) Made all, ran on strongly final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m banded stk (7) pol in Feb beating Dexileos (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
