led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
pressed leader, ridden to lead when edged left over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
dwelt, in rear on outside, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, never near leaders
chased leading pair, driven and effort to challenge on outside when hung left over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, driven and outpaced over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, driven and outpaced well over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on when rider dropped rein well inside final furlong, not reach leaders
Eve Johnson Houghton's Acquaviva ran better at Salisbury last week and she has to be considered with the stable among the winners of late but preference is for EREBUS, who gets the vote with Hounds Ditch rated the best of the rest. The selection showed some promise as a juvenile before making a pleasing debut this term when a close third behind Thaliwarru in a handicap over course and distance at the beginning of the month, form on which she looks the one they all have to beat. Mick Channon's Leitzu has not progressed from his win in a maiden here over a mile in August but showed at Nottingham recently that he would not be long before winning again, although he is not certain to appreciate the drop in trip today. Stef And Stelio has to be considered now that Gerard Butler's runners are going better and he makes more appeal than Brendan Powell's Two Kisses, who has disappointed since winning his maiden in December. Eve Johnson Houghton's Hounds Ditch was not disgraced at Bath over the minimum trip last time and should do better over the extra furlong today but Erebus has an obvious chance and looks the one to be on.
Acquaviva 50-1 (8-9) Pressed leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Pose (8-12) at Salisbury 6f fll mdn stks (5) gf.
Erebus (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Thaliwarru (9-3) at Chepstow 6f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Hounds Ditch 10-1 (9-0) Reluctant to race, soon driven along and well behind, no progress until stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 5, 3 1/2l behind Dungannon (9-0) at Bath 5f mdn auc stks (6) fm.
Leitzu (IRE) 12-1 (8-6) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, headed and relegated to 4th close home, 4th of 6, 3/4l behind Count Bertoni (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Stef And Stelio 9-2 (9-5) Tracked winner, every chance approaching 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Craicattack (8-11) at Kempton 6f 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Apr.
Two Kisses (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Held up, effort over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 10, 9l behind Kajima (9-4) at Warwick 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
