tracked leaders, challenged on bit 3f out, ridden and found nil over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 3f out, hung left and weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and hard pressed from 2f out, headed 1f out, soon outpaced by front pair
chased leaders, ridden to press leader 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, quickened to press winner entering final furlong, ran on, just held
chased leader until weakened over 2f out
Border Artist can end a frustrating run of seconds by beating the likes of Nanton, Envision and Fortune Point. Border Artist won a handicap at the corresponding meeting three years ago when trained by Dandy Nichols, and in fact his last success was for the same trainer in 2004. However, the son of Selkirk, now with Brendan Powell, has looked a bit more in love with the game of late, finishing runner-up on each of his last three starts in low grade handicaps. He is not much better than that these days, but should almost certainly be good enough to land a claimer. Nanton has more scope, but is having his first outing of the season, and although he can go well fresh, Paul Cole's charge has to give plenty of weight to the selection. Envision was a bitter disappointment when dropped to this grade at Newmarket last Friday, going out like a light and is best watched, while Fortune Point gained his first victory on the Flat in two years under a positive ride from Shane Kelly at Brighton, but the drop back in trip is a negative. Any support for Molem should be noted, but we return to Border Artist as the answer.
Molem 9-2jt-fav (9-7) Held up, ridden over 4f out, lost touch over 3f out, soon tailed off, last of 14, well behind The Fonze (7-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jun.
Nanton (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Mid-division, effort in centre 2f out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 13, 10l behind Adoration (8-0) at Epsom 1m 1f 3yo hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Fortune Point (IRE) 15-2 (9-11) Made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, won at Brighton 1m 2f clm (6) frm in Jun beating Miss Monica (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alchemist Master 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced when hung right 2f out, soon weakened, 15th of 17, 12l behind Regent's Secret (9-3) at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jun.
Envision 9-4fav (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, edged right over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Paraguay (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo clm (5) gf in Jun.
Border Artist 10-1 (7-13) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Personify (8-13) at Bath 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Postmaster 14-1 (9-5) In rear and outpaced, stayed on from over 1f out, nearest at finish, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Full Spate (9-13) at Chepstow 7f clm (6) gf in Jun.
Zinging 20-1 (10-0) Led until well over 3f out, weakened well over 2f out, 9th of 10, 17l behind Forthright (11-5) at Newbury 1m 2f amt hcp (5) gf in Jun.
