tracked leaders until weakened rapidly before halfway, soon behind, tailed off
slowly into stride, well off the pace in last pair, struggling over 4f out, tailed off
slowly away, soon in touch, closer in 4th before halfway, led 3f out, joined 2f out, stayed on under pressure to assert final furlong
tracked leader until pushed along over 3f out, plugged on final 2f, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
led, stayed more towards centre course in straight, headed 3f out, plugged on final 2f
last pair, closer in 5th before halfway, outpaced 3f out, plugged on
tracked leading pair, bagged near side rail in straight and close 2nd 3f out, soon every chance, struck on head by winning riders whip approaching final furlong, weakened final furlong, lost 2nd near finish
Edinburgh Castle was second to a horse now rated in the 90s at Bath last October. He hasn’t raced since but a repeat of that form would put him in the firing-line. Manucci ran green on debut and may have needed the run at Salisbury earlier this month but has a lot to find with ROVING MISSION on that effort with Ralph Beckett’s filly getting the nod to go one better today. Memphis Bleek is rated 4lb higher than the selection but lacks the same scope for improvement.
Big Bang Observatory gelding out of Bavarica.
Dereham 100-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, behind, outpaced over 3f out, soon beaten, 9th of 11, 19 1/4l behind Tonyx (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Sep.
Edinburgh Castle (IRE) 9-4 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway well over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind West End Charmer (9-6) at Bath 1m 2f stks (5) gs in Oct.
Manucci (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Tonyx (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Sep.
Memphis Bleek 4-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace over 1f out, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Bring Us Paradise (9-3) at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Shattering (IRE) 50-1 (9-2) Always behind, 9th of 10, 11 3/4l behind Dubai Icon (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (4) pol in Sep.
Roving Mission (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Tonyx (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Sep.