started slowly and towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden out final furlong
soon behind, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong
A very tricky little handicap for punters with questions to answer for each of the eight runners and we will tentatively suggest Expensive Art. Most of this lot look exposed, including the selection, and if you are to back him then you must forgive an abysmal effort when last over c&d last time out. A month or so off since then should have freshened him up and we can only hope he runs up to his best with trip and ground to suit. If he does he might just win it. Fellow c&d scorer Seta Pura would probably be the pick if the rains arrived, but that appears unlikely and on ground faster than good she is not an attractive betting proposition. Mr Wolf also has a c&d win to his name but has not scored for two years now and is clearly on the wane. Tawzeea is lightly raced but already looks in the grip of the assessor, and the same can be said of the others, of whom Dark Champion may emerge as the biggest danger now he has begun to drop in the weights. Not a race to be dogmatic about then and Expensive Art is suggested.
Expensive Art (IRE) 10-3 (8-13) Held up in touch, effort 2f out to over 1f out, ridden and weakened final furlong, last of 8, 9l behind Inter Vision (9-4) at Catterick 6f hcap (4) gf in May.
Hotham 12-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged right, headed close home, 3rd of 19, nk behind Harrison George (9-6) at York 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun.
Tawzeea (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Wise Melody (8-11) at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Red Cape (FR) 14-1 (8-6) With leaders, led over 2f out, headed final furlong, no extra, 5th of 9, 4l behind John Keats (8-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Seta Pura 6-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, driven over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, just held on, won at Catterick 6f 2yo mdn auc (6) gd in Oct beating Premier Danseur (9-3) by a hd, 10 ran.
Legendary Guest 16-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, effort over 2f out, never troubled leaders, 8th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Actabou (8-7) at Redcar 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Dark Champion 16-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 7l behind John Keats (9-0) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-85 (4) frm in Jun.
Mr Wolf 10-3 (9-1) In touch, led over 2f, headed over 1f, no extra final furlong, 6th of 10, 4l behind John Keats (9-0) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-85 (4) frm in Jun.