led under stand side rail, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on
chased leader near side, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to challege
slowly away in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, not clear run and switched left, ran on, not reach leaders
never better than mid-division
held up, ridden 2f out, never a factor
chased leader near side, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
towards rear, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
soon pushed along in rear
mid-division, effort over 1f out, no impression final furlong
held up in touch, short of room and switched left over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
chased leader near side, ridden 2f out, faded final furlong
in touch, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
slowly away always in rear
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Yet another very tricky puzzle for punters to unravel this evening. Half A Billion is a pound lower than when winning this in 2013 but today's going will be faster than ideal. Ron Harris trained the winner three years ago but it's a while since his Secret Witness showed any worthwhile form and stablemate Pensax Lad looks to be in the handicapper's grip. But the consistent Manatee Bay arrives off the back of a victory at Thirsk and will handle this quicker surface and Smart Salute was knocking on the door last year off similar marks. Royal Connoisseur finished ahead of Kenny The Captain when fourth at Hamilton and the sixth has won since. Munfallet and Vallarta are others to consider but BOP IT has fallen to a very attractive mark and ran a bit better here at the start of the month. His trainer had a big-priced winner at York this week and he might be a bit of value.
Munfallet (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 6th of 8, 6l behind Birdman (9-7) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Royal Connoisseur (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on and no extra towards finish, 4th of 13, 4l behind Hopes N Dreams (9-6) at Hamilton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
Secret Witness 14-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon lost place, 6th of 8, 13l behind Showtime Star (9-5) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Jan.
Dominium (USA) 9-2 (9-4) Dwelt towards rear, wide into straight 2f out, ridden and stayed on to 4th inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Desert Strike (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr.
Pensax Lad (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, soon recovered chasing leaders on inside, pushed along halfway, riddden and weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 6l behind Midnight Rider (8-6) at Windsor 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Bop It 33-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 14, 5l behind Meshardal (8-9) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Vallarta (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Intisaab (8-13) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.
Thornaby Nash 9-2 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well and eased towards finish, won at Redcar 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Sep '13 beating Please Let Me Go (8-4) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Smart Salute 7-2 (8-13) Close up, ridden and wide into straight 2f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Holiday Magic (9-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Twin Point 12-1 (8-13) Behind, effort over 2f out, kept on one pace and no impression, 5th of 8, 5l behind Birdman (9-7) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Gold Beau (FR) 11-1 (8-10) Always in rear, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 18l behind Canyari (8-11) at Leicester 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Naggers (IRE) 4-1 (8-9) Led and keen, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 13l behind Ticking Katie (9-2) at York 7f app hcap (3) gf in Jul.
Manatee Bay 10-1 (9-2) Held up, headway when not clear run and switched left over 2f out, chasing leaders and hung left over 1f out, challenging when hung right well inside final furlong, ridden to lead final 100 yards, won at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft beating Amenable (9-2) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Secret Millionaire (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Off the pace in 4th place, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 8l behind Powerful Wind (9-5) at Chepstow 5f hcap (5) gd.
Meandmyshadow 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 15th of 17, 21l behind Manatee Bay (9-2) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Gung Ho Jack 14-1 (9-0) Unseated rider in stalls, in a race won by Childesplay (8-10) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf, 21 ran.
Mukaynis (IRE) Evensfav (9-1) Held up, pushed along and slightly outpaced 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Arctic Lynx (8-12) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) in Feb.
Enderby Spirit (GR) 9-1 (8-9) Raced stands' side, tracked leaders, ridden to lead this group 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 13th of 14, 11l behind Baron Run (8-12) at Hamilton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.
Half A Billion (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Meshardal (8-13) at Catterick 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Apr.
Kenny The Captain (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 5l behind Hopes N Dreams (9-6) at Hamilton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
