mid-division, steady headway approaching final furlong, never able to challenge
held up in touch, under pressure over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, not clear run over 1f out, soon switched right to challenge, kept on, not pace of winner
behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, soon hard ridden, ran on inside final furlong to lead towards finish
prominent, led just over 1f out, headed close home, no extra
keen hold in mid-division, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, lost place over 3f out
held up mid-division, lost place over 4f out
held up, never dangerous
dwelt, held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon hung left and no impression
led, driven over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
Tim Walford's Baltimore Jack has been in good form of late winning three of his last five starts but they have all been on fast ground and he looks best left out of calculations on the going this afternoon with a better bet looking to be STARLA DANCER, who gets the vote with Punch Drunk rated as the best of the rest. The selection opened her account when landing a York handicap a fortnight ago on good ground having been running alright but not as well on faster surfaces prior to that. By Danehill Dancer out of a Lando mare, Richard Fahey's filly should relish the more testing conditions today and she looks the one to beat. Kevin Morgan's Taaresh faces no easy task giving weight away all round, while Jim Goldie's Middlemarch is probably too high in the weights now having been raised 7lbs since his win in a York claimer last month. John Quinn has his team in good heart so Veiled Applause has to be respected but he has been punished by the handicapper for his win at York earlier this month and a bigger threat may come from Punch Drunk. James Given's filly has a nice racing weight having slipped to a decent mark and she has to be considered on a surface that should suit. Starla Dancer has plenty going for her though and she is preferred.
Veiled Applause 7-4fav (9-0) Held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway over 1f out, not clear run, switched right inside final furlong, kept on into 3rd, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Tanfidh (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Admiral Dundas (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Hanoverian Baron (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Northern Jem 16-1 (8-10) Towards rear, some headway over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 13th of 15, 49l behind Veiled Applause (8-6) at York 1m 2f app hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Nevada Desert (IRE) 11-2fav (9-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol beating Earmark (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Starla Dancer (GER) 20-1 (8-11) In touch, improved 3f out, hung left and led enetring final 2f, ran on, won at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd beating Paquerettza (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 19 ran.
Middlemarch (IRE) 4-1fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, kept on final furlong, never on terms, 7th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Applaude (9-5) at Ayr 1m 2f sell stks (4) gs in Sep.
Baltimore Jack (IRE) 6-4fav (9-3) Led, headed over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Follow The Flag (9-4) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Agapanthus (GER) 40-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden, struggling 3f out, 8th of 12, 14l behind Tanfidh (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Desert Vision 16-1 (9-11) Tracked leader until approaching 7f out, regained 2nd 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 23l behind Black Rain (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Maybeme 12-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, hung left and kept on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 5th of 14, 6l behind Bollin Dolly (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Punch Drunk 16-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never dangerous, 8th of 9, 7l behind Bow To No One (8-5) at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Taaresh (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, took keen hold, held up, ridden and no impression final 2f, 7th of 11, 9l behind Dr Livingstone (8-12) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) sft in Sep '08.
