soon pressing leader, led 5f out, headed over 2f out, stayed on one pace, no chance with winner
led, headed 5 out, unbalanced briefly over 4f out, edged left over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
held up, in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, soon headed, stayed on one pace, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, took keen hold, steadied into last over 8f out, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, soon clear, easily
NonRunner
Nigel certainly wasn't winning out of turn at Brighton and similar front-running tactics may well pay dividends here as well. But we'll take the chance that MELENDEZ acts on turf, as he was a progressive sort on Fibresand in the spring and should handle the step up in trip. Grapevine has been placed in all three starts this year and won over this trip at Windsor last month. Yensir probably needed his run here in April and Bahamian C could bounce back to form at any time now he's starting to slip down the weights.
Firestorm (GER) 9-2 (9-7) Led until 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Vale Of Iron (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jun.
Bahamian C 11-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 10th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Mountain Rescue (9-6) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Yensir 4-1 (8-11) Close up in rear, came centre over 3f out, went a never dangerous 4th 2f out, 4th of 5, 11 3/4l behind Finelcity (8-11) at Epsom 1m 1f mdn stks (5) sft in Apr.
Melendez (USA) 15-8jfav (8-12) Made all, drew clear approaching final furlong, hard held, very easy, won at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Apr beating Deansgate (8-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Grapevine (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Dwelt keen in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5 3/4l behind Gershwin (9-5) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Nigel 9-4 (9-7) Made all, edged right approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Brighton 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jun beating Lord Reason (9-4) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Celtic Ava (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 10l behind Merry Dancer (9-6) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (6) gs in Jun.
