behind and raced alone until switched left over 3f out, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
close up, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
slowly away, mid-division, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
slowly into stride, soon chased leaders, ridden halfway, kept on same pace
slowly away, soon in touch, ridden over 1f out, stayed on
held up behind, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
led, ridden and hung left over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders until weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stide, in touch, ridden halfway weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, outpaced from halfway, kept on final furlong
A competitive sprint to close the card but Smart Hostess could well be good enough to follow up her Pontefract win at the expense of Peruvian Chief, Indian Spark, Smart Predator and Talbot Avenue. The John Quinn-trained filly has won three of her last four races and, running here under a penalty, arrives in good heart and set for a big run run. Many of her opponents, of course, are battle hardened and fully entitled to be competitive in this sphere. Like the selection, Indian Spark and Absent Friends are course and distance winners, and the first-named of these is now back on a winning mark. Peruvian Chief is also well handicapped based on his May win at Kempton, so have him on the shortlist. Smart Predator, a stable companion and half-brother to the selection, has won two of his last three starts and also comes here in good heart following on from a narrow recent win in a competitive event at Newmarket. Grand servants to connections that they are, Henry Hall, Corridor Creeper, Salviati, Beyond The Clouds, Consensus and Malapropism are towards the top end of what the form book says will take them top win, but Talbot Avenue can win from his current mark, despite being a couple of pounds out of the weights. A good event then, with the winner expected to come from the nominated list, and with our selection going to Smart Hostess.