in rear, effort on outer over 2f out, no impression
pushed along mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
led, headed 3f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, soon eased
mid-division, headway over 3f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
chased leaders, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, led again 1f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
held up towards rear, effort on outer over 2f out, no impression
mid-division, ridden and not much room on inside over 2f out, ridden and switched over 1f out, one pace
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, effort over 2f out, no impression
chased leaders, led over 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
prominent, checked on bend after 3f, weakened from 3f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace
Carlitos Spirit has plenty going for him here and gets the vote in the 2008 Carlisle Bell, while there could be any number of challengers. Rod Millman's gelding has been supremely consistent of late, finishing in the front two on each of his last four starts, including when winning over this trip on soft ground at Nottingham in April. He has a good enough pitch in stall eight, cut suits him, and he was only just held off a 1lb lower mark last time, so he gets the vote. Observatory Star likes to get his toe in and this is his optimum trip. Runner up on his last two starts, he remains very competitive from the same mark of 78. Sunnyside Tom has reeled off two wins on fast ground at Musselburgh and is penalised for the latter, but unless the ground dries out his chance will diminish. The same goes for Osteopathic Remedy, who has also won his last two and is from a yard in tremendous nick. Summer Gold landed a Newcastle handicap last time but is another unproven on soft ground, but Summer Dancer does handle cut and is a very rare David Eslworth runner at the track, so he looks one to take very seriously. Sam's Secret is another who wants drying ground, but Carlitos Spirit acts on either and the sort of rock solid profile that suggests he can repel allcomers.
Hartshead 17-2 (9-5) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Gold Sovereign (10-0) at Redcar 1m hcap (3) gf.
Ella Woodcock (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, lost place over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no extra, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Ansells Pride (8-12) at Haydock 1m hcap (3) gf in May.
Vicious Warrior 11-2 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, faded final furlong, 6th of 8, 10l behind Exit Smiling (8-7) at Ripon 1m hcap (3) sft.
Summer Dancer (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway and switched left over 2f out, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Axiom (9-7) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Rainbow Mirage (IRE) 9-2 (8-10) Always in rear, ridden over 2f out, no real headway, 7th of 9, 8l behind Came Back (9-4) at Great Leighs 6f hcap (3) pol in May.
Summer Gold (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, headway to lead 2f out, ridden clear approaching final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May beating Sudden Impulse (9-2) by 2l, 14 ran.
Osteopathic Remedy (IRE) 6-4fav (9-4) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, eased near finish, won at Ayr 1m hcap (5) gf in May beating Esoterica (8-8) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bold Marc (IRE) 18-1 (9-8) Prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 16, 11l behind Goodbye Mr Bond (9-9) at York 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Lend A Grand (IRE) 40-1 (8-13) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Justcallmehandsome (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in May.
Observatory Star (IRE) 7-4 (8-10) Tracked leaders in rear, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon not much room, no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 3, 1 1/2l behind Ben Chorley (9-5) at Ripon 1m 1f hcp 0-90 (3) sft.
Full Victory (IRE) 10-3fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, switched right 2f out, ridden and close up over 1f out faded, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Twilight Star (9-0) at Sandown 1m hcap (3) gs.
Countdown 6-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, lost place halfway, stayed on same pace final furlong, 8th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Compton's Eleven (8-8) at Doncaster 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Sunnyside Tom (IRE) 6-4fav (9-4) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, won at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf beating Fiefdom (9-2) by a nk, 5 ran.
Carlitos Spirit (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden 2f out, ran on strongly under pressure close home, 2nd of 11, hd behind Twilight Star (9-0) at Sandown 1m hcap (3) gs.
Nevada Desert (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left and headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Goodbye Mr Bond (9-9) at York 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Motafarred (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 10, 6l behind Stoic Leader (8-12) at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Sam's Secret 5-1 (9-11) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on near finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Aphrodisia (9-3) at Newmarket 1m fll hcp (4) gf.
