tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, faded inside final furlong
with leader, led over 4f out until over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden when bumped over 2f out, no impression after
held up behind, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well, went 2nd towards finish
chased leaders, ridden to lead well over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, driven out
led until over 4f out, led again over 3f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened
mid-division, ridden 4f out, not clear run over 2f out and again well over 1f out, stayed on
Emerald Wilderness gets the nod over Escape Route and Ace Of Hearts, with Mesbaah, Regal Parade and Bahar Shumaal also worth a small mention at least. This looks to be a fairly open finale, but Emerald Wilderness has in the main been pretty consistent, so is taken to make up for narrow defeat at Ripon 18-days ago, when he travelled well for most of the way before finding little when it mattered. Even so, Ed Dunlop's gelding has been placed or won five of his last six starts, and is worth chancing to make amends. Escape Route was noted staying on strongly at the end when a close sixth behind King Of Argos over seven-furlongs here last time, and is worth a first try over today's longer trip, while Ace Of Hearts showed he was no back-number when winning an apprentice affair over the course-and-distance in August, and he was very unlucky-in-running at Ripon last time, having to be switched to get a run. Mesbaah beat the selection by six-lengths in a Beverley maiden last August, and on today's terms can be fancied to maintain the form, but he has been disappointing subsequently. Bahar Shumaal has plenty of weight, and although Mark Johnston does well with his runners here, Regal Parade is hard to fancy strongly on recent evidence. All in all, the percentage call has to be Emerald Wilderness.
Ace of Hearts 11-4 (9-13) Held up behind leaders, not much room and switched left inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Bolodenka (9-7) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Bahar Shumaal (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden 2f out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 7l behind Kew Green (8-8) at Warwick 1m stk (4) gf in Apr.
Capable Guest (IRE) 28-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, stayed on final furlong, 6th of 15, 1 1/2l behind Vanderlin (9-1) at Chester 1m hcap (2) gf.
Mesbaah (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, driven to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 19, 1l behind Webbow (8-13) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug.
Emerald Wilderness (IRE) 11-8fav (9-5) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, driven to challenge approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Suits Me (8-8) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Ebert 6-1 (9-11) Slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Cactus Rose (9-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Formax (FR) 33-1 (9-2) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 14, 8l behind Lovelace (8-13) at Newbury 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Escape Route (USA) 7-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on well final 75 yards, 6th of 13, 1l behind King of Argos (9-12) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Ransom Captive (USA) 66-1 (8-9) In touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 5l behind Sweet Lilly (8-9) at Sandown 1m lst fll stk (1) gf.
Regal Parade 17-2 (9-4) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, effort over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 9, 7l behind Bolodenka (9-7) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
