prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened 1f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
in touch, ridden 3f out, soon beaten
went right start, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden and hung right over 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, switched right over 2f out, led on bit over 1f out, comfortably
slowly into stride, soon struggling in rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on to go 2nd inside final furlong, not reach winner
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
keen, prominent, ridden 3f out, every chance 2f out, weakened 1f out
led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd well inside final furlong
Nashaab, It's Unbelievable and Balearic Star are the three against the field here, and preference is for Balearic Star. Balearic Star takes a drop in grade here after a long winless run. His most recent effort was decent, beaten only six lengths in a Nottingham handicap. He has gradually dropped in grade and can go well here with a first time visor perhaps increasing his chances. Nashaab won a claimer here three outings ago, and has been well beaten in handicaps since. He is dropped in class here and given his course and distance success this quirky individual has to be considered. After scoring at Ripon, It's Unbelievable has been well beaten twice since, running poorly last time at Epsom. This represents a major drop in grade for Brian Meehan's runner but his last run was so bad he is taken on. Balearic Star showed a hint of past ability last time and Rod Millman's charge can take this.
Balearic Star (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Held up, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, soon one pace, 5th of 15, 6l behind Blue Empire (9-10) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jul.
Emperor Cat (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, weakened, 12th of 16, 15l behind Cemgraft (10-5) at Chepstow 1m 4f amt hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Grandos (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Mid-division, driven halfway, staying on towards finish, 7th of 14, 7l behind Jellytot (8-0) at Catterick 7f mdn 0-60 (6) gf in Jun.
Todlea (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Dwelt, ridden to soon lead, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra, 7th of 12, 6l behind Analyze (9-8) at Lingfield 1m hcp (E3) pol in Nov '04.
Zafarshah (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never reached leaders, 3rd of 18, 4 1/2l behind The Cayterers (8-10) at Leicester 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jul.
It's Unbelievable (USA) 12-1 (9-4) Squeezed out start, raced freely, held up, edged left after 1f, ridden and not much room 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 8, 23l behind Press The Button (9-1) at Epsom 1m 1f 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Thornfield Clo (IRE) 11-2fav (8-13) Mid-division, ridden and flashed tail 3f out, soon weakened and eased, last of 14, 39l behind Takitwo (9-6) at Folkestone 7f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Nashaab (USA) 16-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, switched inside and ran on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 8, 4l behind Joseph Henry (9-5) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-85 (4) frm in Jul.