dwelt, towards rear, ridden 3f out, never dangerous
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, ridden and headway well over 1f out, one pace and no impression
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
slowly into stride, always behind
held up, ridden over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
behind and soon driven along, ridden over 2f out, one pace and never dangerous after
went left start, always behind
chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression
slowly into stride, always behind
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
with leader, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, quicken to lead 2f out, soon clear
always behind, tailed off final 2f
A trappy race in which Caustic Wit, Chicken Soup, Meditation and Imperial Echo are all in form but we shall stick with Caustic Wit. Although Malcolm Saunders' eight-year-old is yet to win at Chester, he secures the selection as he is in form, has bags of early pace and is well drawn in box 4. He could count as an unlucky loser over this trip at Chepstow and we believe he should go well here. Chicken Soup has been well touted in the past and looked to have a race in the bag last month before capitulating to Out For A Stroll close home. The handicapper is not making things easy. Imperial Echo is known as a hold up performer so backers really are taking a chance that he will secure a late run. Meditation has been able to nick races from the front and the mare has not stopped improving over the course of the season. There is less likelihood of a soft lead on this occasion. Roman Maze is not out of this on his better form and did shape up well in a recent ladies handicap. H Harrison has not shown a lot for a long time but he should be suited by a strong run race and his draw is certainly conducive to one of his better performances. Baylaw Star has a jockey known for showing good aptitude on front running types and should be capable of running into the places. A tough race in which Caustic Wit secures the most tentative of votes.
Will He Wish 33-1 (8-13) Soon with winner until ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, last of 5, 2 1/2l behind Prince of Light (8-8) at Chester 7f stk (2) gf in Jul.
Baylaw Star 50-1 (9-6) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 7l behind Banknote (9-5) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Roman Maze 11-2jt-fav (10-5) Mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 20, 1/2l behind Lincolneurocruiser (9-5) at Ascot 7f ldy rds hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Fiefdom (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Held up behind leaders, ridden 2f out, edged left and weakened final furlong, 10th of 14, 6l behind Hartshead (9-9) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Kindlelight Debut 20-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon beaten, 15th of 20, 10l behind Lincolneurocruiser (9-5) at Ascot 7f ldy rds hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Imperial Echo (USA) 4-1fav (9-5) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 6th of 14, 4l behind Hartshead (9-9) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Adeje Park (IRE) 50-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, 17th of 19, 32l behind Red Evie (8-12) at Ascot 1m 3yo fll lst hcp (1) gf in Jun.
Tanforan 18-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, last of 11, 19l behind Greenslades (8-13) at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in May.
Millennium Force 14-1 (9-3) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 14, 5l behind Hartshead (9-9) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Top Dirham 12-1 (9-2) Towards rear, effort over 2f out, no impression, 7th of 8, 7l behind Fremen (9-7) at York 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Caustic Wit (IRE) 11-4fav (9-13) Held up and keen, not clear run from 2f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind What-A-Dancer (9-1) at Chepstow 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Waterline Twenty (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Chased winner, ridden and not quicken over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Creative Mind (9-4) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Bessemer (JPN) 6-1 (9-3) Mid-division on outside, headway over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 8l behind Stoic Leader (9-7) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Heureux (USA) 14-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, staying on when not much room inside final furlong, one pace, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Hartshead (10-0) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-90 (3) frm in Jul.
H Harrison (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 10, 2l behind Stoic Leader (9-7) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Chicken Soup 7-2 (9-7) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, driven and ran on final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Apsara (9-3) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Kirstys Lad 50-1 (8-2) Held up, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders, 6th of 10, 4l behind Out For A Stroll (9-5) at Chester 1m app hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Meditation 7-2 (9-7) Made virtually all, joined and ridden over 2f out, ran on gamely final furlong, won at Salisbury 7f fll hcp (4) gf in Jul beating Gaelic Princess (9-7) by 3/4l, 8 ran.