led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, battle gamely towards finish, just held post
tracked leaders, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
slowly into stride, tracked leader, pushed along over 1f out, soon ridden and lost place
held up in rear, ridden and outpaced over 1f out
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, kept on and pressed near finish, just held on
EXPERT has contested a Group 2 and a Listed race this summer and went close back in this grade at Goodwood last week. He's just preferred to Justice Day, who has similar credentials but hasn't sparkled in his last couple of runs and has to give away 2lb. Lightning Thunder has plenty of scope after winning easily on debut at Newbury but the form of that race hasn't been franked. Scruffy Tramp is preferred to the first-time-blinkered Free Code of the others.
Justice Day (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, headway and effort over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong, no impression, 5th of 7, 3l behind Astaire (8-12) at York 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) sft in Aug.
Expert (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Held up tracking leaders in centre, headway over 2f out, chased winner and edged left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon hung left, no extra and headed final 75 yards, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Deeds Not Words (8-2) at Goodwood 6f 2yo hcp (2) gf.
Free Code (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden in last 2f out, modest progress past eased horses final furlong, 6th of 9, 7l behind Great White Eagle (9-3) at Curragh 6f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gf.
Scruffy Tramp (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Tracked winner, ridden to press winner when carried right and rider dropped rein over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 4, nk behind Green Door (9-5) at Lingfield 5f 2yo nov stks (5) pol in Aug.
Lightning Thunder 7-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Newbury 6f 2yo stks (4) gd in Aug beating Tea In Transvaal (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.