always behind
mid-division, effort 2f out, soon edged left and weakened
mid-division, ran wide and weakened inside final 3f, tailed off
pressed leader until over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up in rear, hampered on inside over 7f out, never in contention
chased front trio, ridden over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
towards rear, reminders over 6f out, headway inside final 2f, kept on to take 2nd close home, not reached winner
always prominent, led over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, driven out
slowly into stride, headway over 5f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, headway 5f out, wandered inside final 2f, chased winner inside final furlong, no impression, lost 2nd close home
led until ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
It's no surprise that division two of this race is no better than the first one and BICKSTA may be good enough to get the better of Rose Cheval and Tropical Duke. The selection was blinkered for the first-time at Brighton earlier in the month, and Ed Vaughan now switches to the visor. That may still help, but what is of more importance looks to be the drop back to a stiff extended mile, which may well be the key to success on ground she relishes. Rose Cheval is proving expensive to follow, but she will find this much easier than the Bath handicap in which she was just touched off last time and she too will enjoy this quicker ground, so she can go close. Tropical Duke won a Redcar handicap last time and from a 3lbs higher mark has a big shout the way the race is framed here, so he is much respected. Southwell runner-up Russian Music may find the going a little on the lively side and while neither Paint Splash nor Pacific Bay are out of it, Bicksta gets the vote.
Grey Gurkha 100-1 (9-2) Dwelt and behind, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 15, 11l behind Union Jack Jackson (8-7) at Beverley 7f clm stks (5) gd in Aug.
McCormack (IRE) 40-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, ridden to press leader 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 15l behind Bolanderi (9-5) at Leicester 1m 2f all hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Pinewood Lulu 80-1 (8-7) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 21l behind Sir Ike (9-10) at Folkestone 7f sell stks (6) gf in Aug.
Reddy Ronnie (IRE) 50-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 30l behind Wovoka (9-8) at Newcastle 1m clm stks (6) gf in Aug.
Russian Music (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened and eased, last of 12, 41l behind Daring Dream (9-5) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Aug.
Adozen Dreams 20-1 (8-7) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 8, 12l behind Gee Gina (8-4) at Beverley 5f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) fm in Aug.
Bicksta 33-1 (8-7) Led until over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 5l behind Caster Sugar (9-9) at Brighton 1m 2f fll hcp (5) fm.
Carragold 20-1 (8-11) Soon ridden and behind, some late headway, never nearer, 5th of 10, 10l behind Wiseman's Diamond (9-8) at Newcastle 1m app hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Aug.
Pacific Bay (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 11l behind Lyric Art (8-12) at Catterick 7f mdn stks 0-60 (6) sft.
Paint Splash 6-1 (8-4) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 17, 2l behind Tropical Duke (8-5) at Redcar 1m 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Aug.
Tropical Duke (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden and headway to go 2nd over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong to lead towards finish, won at Redcar 1m 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Aug beating Jiggalong (9-3) by hd, 17 ran.
Unconsoled 20-1 (8-4) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 12l behind Gee Gina (8-4) at Beverley 5f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) fm in Aug.
Feeling Stylish (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 8l behind Stand In Flames (8-11) at Leicester 7f 3yo & 4yo sll (5) hvy in Aug.
Rose Cheval (USA) 20-1 (8-12) Mid-division on inside, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner 1f out, stayed on, held near finish, 2nd of 13, nk behind Seasonal Cross (9-7) at Bath 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fm.
