led, came centre over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, hung badly left and rallied to lead again inside final furlong, headed final strides
tracked leader, came centre over 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, hung badly left to far side rail over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, driven to lead again final strides
close up, came centre over 3f out, hung badly left to far side rail over 1f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
held up in rear, came centre over 3f out, hung left and no impression from over 1f out
NORMAN THE GREAT can continue to progress at the principal expense of Epsom Salts and Watson's Bay. Alan King's hurdler looks to have enjoyed a switch back to the flat having obliged in his last two contests. That was no surprise as he had shown ability for Jane Chapple-Hyam in the past and with no issues in relation to the going, he is a major player if handling the camber at Epsom. Epsom Salts beat Watson's Bay at the course last week. Previously tried at two miles, he was not stopping over this mile-and-a-half. Watson's Bay was another to come from off the pace and will be interesting to see if form can be reversed at these markedly different terms. Yossi has been plying his trade over hurdles with Jim Best. He didn't look altogether genuine when trained by Mark Tompkins on the level previously. Gloucester requires plenty of stoking to go about his business but he is resolute. Waldorf has won on Wolverhampton's polytrack in the past but the trip has to be an imponderable tonight despite his breeding. Norman The Great gets the nod.
Yossi (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Led, headed 8f out, led again 4f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 5, 2l behind The Betchworth Kid (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcap (3) sft in Aug.
Norman The Great 5-1 (9-9) Tracked leading pair, ridden and hung badly left from 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Newmarket 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun beating Agente Romano (9-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Watson's Bay 6-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 3f out, ridden to challenge winner approaching final furlong, one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Epsom Salts (8-4) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Waldorf (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Mid-division, weakened final 2f, 10th of 12, 19l behind Ninth House (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jun.
Gloucester 9-2 (9-13) Chased leaders in 4th, went 6 lengths 2nd 4f out, closed on leader over 1f out, driven, stayed on, not quicken near finish, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Turjuman (8-13) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Epsom Salts 15-2 (8-4) Slowly into stride in rear, headway over 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, edged right and led over 1f out, ridden and ran on towards finish, won at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Watson's Bay (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
