took keen hold early, tracked leaders, pushed along and losing place when hanging and not look keen from 2f out
held up, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden to challenge from well held 2nd over 1f out, faded final 1f
held up, headway on inside over 3f out, went 2nd 3f out, pushed along 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent early, pushed along halfway, weakened 5f out
chased leaders, pushed along over 4f out, ridden to lead 3f out, in command over 1f out, clear when edged left inside final furlong
slowly away, soon pushed along in rear, brief effort on inside over 2f out
led 2f, tracked leader, regained lead 5f out, ridden and headed 3f out, rallied to take well held 2nd well inside final furlong, no chance with winner
raced wide early, close up, switched right to inside and headway over 3f out, stayed on to take well held 3rd near finish
led after 2f, headed 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
SKY QUEST is probably good enough to follow up a recent win here, while Sand Repeal, Morbick and Bell Island are all considered. The selection is 5lbs higher than when scoring over 1m 4f at Windsor in a similar contest, where he stayed on strongly. This is no better contest, the ground suits and he is probably capable of defying that rise. Sand Repeal has generally been in pretty good form this season and has his optimum conditions and trip here. He has won plenty of times from higher marks so he does have an opportunity, although tempering that is the moderate recent form of Julia Fielden's string. Morbick tries turf for the first time in almost two years and will stay every yard here. If he can transfer his ability from Wolverhampton to this surface then he could go close. Simon Walker is booked for the mount on Bell Island and he will want to make this into a real test in order to maximise his mount's stamina. He is 4lbs lower than when winning at Lingfield earlier in the year and has a squeak. There are stamina doubts over Make Amends, while distance winner General Tufto would want a drop of rain to ease conditions and improve his chance. Sky Quest is the one for us.
Bell Island 7-2fav (9-2) Keen, mid-division, headway to track leaders over 8f out, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 8, 11l behind Norman The Great (9-9) at Newmarket 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Sky Quest (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, kept on well, won at Windsor 1m 4f am hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug beating King's Fable (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
General Tufto 8-1 (9-6) In rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 3rd post, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Bolanderi (9-5) at Leicester 1m 2f all hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Make Amends (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Rock Anthem (10-1) at Salisbury 1m ladies hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Soundbyte 13-2 (8-9) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, 10th of 11, 12l behind Eton Fable (9-1) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) fm in Aug.
Damascus Gold 50-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 14th of 16, 11l behind Mae Cigan (8-8) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in May '08.
Sand Repeal (IRE) 7-2fav (11-1) Held up, headway to lead over 4f out, headed approaching 3f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Sky Quest (11-6) at Windsor 1m 4f am hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Sinbad The Sailor 6-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 10, 7l behind Saborido (8-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Wester Lodge (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Mid-division, shaken up over 3f out, never near leaders, 7th of 13, 7l behind Drawn Gold (10-13) at Warwick 1m 5f am hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Jun.
Morbick 15-8fav (11-4) Held up in rear, steady headway 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 11, 2 3/4l behind William's Way (10-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f am hcp (0-70) (5) pol in Mar.
