went left start, chased leaders, driven 2f out, one pace and looked held when badly hampered just inside final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, soon outpaced, well behind from halfway
tracked leader, trapped on rails from over 2f out, squeezed through to chase winner just inside final furlong, rallied well towards finish, just failed
tracking leaders when not clear run on inside over 2f out, soon switched right, ridden to lead 1f out, hung left under pressure final furlong, just held on, all out
led, ran wide into straight, ridden and headed 1f out, weakening when badly hampered just inside final furlong
held up, ridden and hung left from 2f out and soon beaten
behind, ridden and edged left from halfway, no impression
Holly Springs, Spanish Music, Heweraat and Councellor form the shortlist here, with the vote going to Hewaraat. The Barry Hills-trained selection has shown enough in all four starts to suggest a race of this nature at this level is well within his compass. He also had Holly Springs four-and-a-half lengths behind when second at Salisbury last time, so he has to be a main contender here. Holly Springs is often the bridesmaid but her form is reasonable enough and first-time blinkers might bring some improvement, so she has to be considered, while it is interesting to see Councellor dropped in trip after a good effort from a mark of 70 over a mile last time. He, too, has to be considered. Cosmic Destiny has put in some solid handicap efforts from a mark of 60 but, on official ratings, needs to find a few pounds, while Spanish Music has performed with promise at maiden level but, once again, official marks tell us that a few pounds need to be found. That said, they are not ruled out of good runs, although the vote goes to Hewaraat.
Montana 25-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, weakening when hampered over 1f out, 9th of 16, 11l behind Firework (9-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Redbank (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2f out, hung left over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Night Wolf (9-1) at Brighton 1m hcp (6) frm in May.
Councellor (FR) 11-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders, led over 4f out, ridden 3f out, edged left 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 14, nk behind Celtic Spa (8-12) at Salisbury 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Hewaraat (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Oakbridge (8-12) at Salisbury 6f mdn stk (5) gf in Jul.
Cosmic Destiny (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 14th of 16, 12l behind Niteowl Lad (8-13) at Redcar 5f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Holly Springs 10-3 (8-7) With leader, ridden and challenged over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 12, 7l behind Oakbridge (8-12) at Salisbury 6f mdn stk (5) gf in Jul.
Spanish Music 9-4fav (8-9) Prominent, chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Salinger (9-0) at Lingfield 6f mdn aut stk (5) pol in Jul.
