in rear, pushed along half way, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to get competitive
chased leaders, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
held up in touch on rail, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
prominent, hard ridden 2f out, driven to chase winner inside final furlong, kept on, always held
chased leaders on rail, not much room and squeezed through over 1f out, led 1f out, ridden and kept on well
in touch on outside, ridden halfway, soon beaten
Welsh Opera stayed on well when successful at Yarmouth over six furlongs last week and Stuart Williams' filly may not appreciate the drop back to the minimum trip today in a race taken to go to CHANDIKA, who gets the vote over Thoughtsofstardom. Phil McEntee's gelding is one of two course and distance winners in the field along with Mick Channon's 10-year-old Pic Up Sticks and has every chance if he can reproduce recent Polytrack form at Wolverhampton back on turf but he has not won for some time and may be best watched. Mick Quinn's Ten Down has shown better form having been given a chance by the handicapper of late and another 2lb drop in the weights since his latest start gives him every chance of resuming winning ways. George Margarson's Imaginary Diva has run better in his last two starts and the three-year-old has to be considered having been dropped 1lb since his most recent outing. Preference though is for another representing the classic generation, Chandika, who should appreciate the return to a faster surface having disappointed on good to soft ground at Bath last month.
Pic Up Sticks 16-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 13, 8l behind Lithaam (8-5) at Chepstow 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Welsh Opera 6-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on well, won at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gf beating Averoo (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Chandika 7-4fav (8-9) Keen, led, ridden and headed approaching 2f out, driven and weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 7l behind Battle (9-6) at Bath 5f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Ten Down 16-1 (8-6) Led, ridden 2f out, driven and headed final 75 yards, no extra, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Corton Charlemagne (8-13) at Folkestone 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Imaginary Diva 5-1 (9-1) Pressed winner, ridden over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3l behind Rainy Night (9-1) at Wolverhampton 5f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) std.
The Name Is Frank 14-1 (8-11) Raced far side, tracked leader, ridden to challenge 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 3/4l behind Mayoman (9-0) at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-55 (6) gs.
Thoughtsofstardom 5-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 4l behind Decider (9-0) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol.
Dynamo Dave (USA) 14-1 (8-8) Chased leader to 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 7l behind Boundless Applause (8-4) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Monsieur Reynard 5-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, chased winner entering final furlong, driven and unable to quicken near finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Decider (9-0) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol.
One Way Ticket 33-1 (8-5) Slowly away and always in rear, last of 13, 16l behind Lithaam (8-5) at Chepstow 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Nordic Light (USA) 66-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 7l behind Who's Winning (8-5) at Chepstow 6f clm stks (6) gd.
