tracked leader, led 2f out, soon edged left, ridden and hard pressed over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, kept on, just held
mid-division on outside, lost place 5f out, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, driven 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure and chance inside final furlong, kept on
in touch, outpaced over 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on under pressure, just held on
mid-division on inside, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, no impression
hampered after 1f, mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, edged left and stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong
switched left start, held up in rear, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous
towards rear, headway into mid-division over 4f out, soon ridden, no further progress
led, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, soon hampered and lost place, kept on same pace
hampered and squeezed out after 1f, behind, headway on inside over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace when hampered and checked inside final furlong
behind, ridden and lost touch 6f out, tailed off
held up towards rear, outpaced 5f out headway under pressure over 2f out, never nearer
badly hampered after 1f, mid-division, pushed along 4f out, soon lost place, weakened and eased 2f out, tailed off
raced keenly, soon in touch, effort on outside over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, no impression
SWINGKEEL, Halla San and Mamlook are our three against the field in a typically competitive renewal of the Chester Cup, with narrow preference for John Dunlop's horse. Our selection looked a progressive staying handicapper during the latter part of 2009, most notably when winning a hot race off a mark of 90 and then taking third when upped to listed class. He's had a spin this year to blow away the cobwebs on ground that would've been too soft and off a mark of 95 looks capable of landing another decent prize. Our hope is it's this one, with good ground to suit if the rain stays away, a decent draw in stall four and the yard in fine form. Of course in a race like this there are a host of dangers, not least last year's third Halla San. Richard Fahey's inmate is exposed but has run well in two starts already this term and course form counts for plenty, so off just 2lbs higher than the mark he ran off last term he's a threat. Ajaan was a place ahead of Halla San last year but at these weights will struggle to confirm that, with Mamlook appearing more of a threat following another good campaign over timber. He's got the assistance of Richard Hughes and won't mind which way the ground goes. Red Cadeaux looks very well handicapped following the weekend success of Tinaar, the horse he beat last time, but Ed Dunlop's horse simply isn't bred to stay this far and is ignored. Bernie The Bolt looks progressive and should be involved but he's landed a poor draw and is taken on along with Tastahil, who ran a shocker at Nottingham and has plenty to find with Halla San on that run with no obvious excuse. Nemo Spirit needs a market check on his first run for Tom Dascombe as does Liszt, but the feature race can go to Swingkeel.
Tastahil (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 6f out, lost place 5f out, soon weakened, eased 4f out, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Opinion Poll (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 6f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) sft in Apr.
Ajaan 20-1 (9-10) Held up in touch, headway over 4f out, soon under pressure, kept on same pace from well over 1f out, 5th of 32, 9l behind Darley Sun (8-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Majestic Concorde (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Never better than mid-division, 15th of 29, 27l behind Dani California (8-0) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Sep.
Fiulin 16-1 (10-0) Led and set strong pace, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 36l behind Nanton (9-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Sep.
Halla San 9-2 (9-11) Mid-division, pushed along 5f out, headway on outside 4f out, ridden to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out until inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Dazinski (8-7) at Ripon 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Apr.
Mamlook (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Behind, headway under pressure over 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reached winner, 2nd of 32, 5l behind Darley Sun (8-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Desert Sea (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Held up in 6th on inner, pushed along 3f out, weakening when not much room over 2f out, eased final 1f, last of 11, well behind Nanton (9-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Sep.
Swingkeel (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 6f out, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, 36l behind Opinion Poll (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 6f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) sft in Apr.
Raincoat 125-1 (9-0) Steadied start, switched left, held up in rear, effort 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on one pace, 5th of 10, 9l behind Opinion Poll (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 6f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) sft in Apr.
Bernie The Bolt (IRE) 9-2 (7-12) Held up in rear, good headway from 3f out, chased leadr approaching 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on (hand timed), won at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep beating Alanbrooke (8-7) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Liszt (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Dwelt, always behind, eased 2f out, last of 14, 48l behind Dansili Dancer (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar.
Red Cadeaux 7-1 (8-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, quickened clear, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr beating Tinaar (8-8) by nk, 12 ran.
Nemo Spirit (IRE) 66-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon driven and in touch, ridden over 5f out, gradually weakened, 28th of 32, well behind Darley Sun (8-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Rangefinder 11-1 (9-4) Held up behind, headway on outside 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, no impression, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Trip The Light (8-10) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
La Vecchia Scuola (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden along and headway over 2f, driven and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 16, 4 1/2l behind The Betchworth Kid (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcap (2) sft in Sep '08.
Spring Jim 9-2fav (9-1) Held up, mid-division, lost place over 2f out, 8th of 15, 13l behind Hunterview (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Oct.
Som Tala 14-1 (10-0) Prominent, weakened 1f out, 6th of 8, 7l behind Gordonsville (9-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
