tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased over 1f out
dwelt, held up towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, eased final 2f
held up in touch, effort over 1f out, soon joined winner, ridden and edged left, edged right inside final furlong, unable to quicken near finish
tracked leaders, tracked leader halfway, led over 1f out, soon joined, driven and ran on inside final furlong, always holding rival
held up in rear, headway approaching 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd entering final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, pushed along halfway, headway over 2f out, soon driven, weakened approaching final furlong, soon eased
tracked leader until halfway, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
The last of five handicaps on the card can go to ONCE A GULCH, who is taken to score from Acrostic and Flawed Genius. The Jeremy Noseda-trained selection progressed well from run one to two, improving on a good outing here over c&d with a win at Kempton. This handicap debut will tell us more about where his abilities lay, but he already looks to be going the right way, is clearly unexposed, and races from what looks a fair mark, so we'll take him to score first time out in this company. Acrostic won on fast ground over the trip at Nottingham and is now 6lb higher than when putting in a very good handicap debut in defeat last time and he will be a force to be reckoned with. Flawed Genius was beaten less than three lengths in the Britannia at Royal Ascot and has some very solid form in defeats in better company, so he is much respected. Slam may just have too much weight on his back and Mukhber is interesting in first-time headgear too, but we will side with Once A Gulch. (Jonathan Doidge)
Kal Barg 10-3 (9-4) Tracked leaders, effort approaching final furlong, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Always A Rock (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Flawed Genius 2-1fav (8-11) Held up, headway and driven on outside over 1f out, stayed on, no danger, 4th of 8, 4l behind Firestreak (8-11) at Goodwood 7f stk 0-95 (2) gf in Jul.
Acrostic 3-1 (9-6) Took keen hold, led early, tracked leader, closed 2f out, soon led, headed inside final furlong, rallied but always held, 2nd of 5, nk behind Stalking Shadow (9-2) at Salisbury 1m 3yo hcp (4) gs.
Slam 20-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, weakened quickly, 15th of 16, 24l behind Jedediah (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Jul.
Born Tobouggie (GER) 6-1 (9-7) Held up, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, kept on, eased towards finish, won at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs beating Willow Dancer (9-13) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Mukhber 5-1 (9-3) Soon prominent, ridden and lost place over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 8l behind Mangham (8-10) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (3) sft.
Once a Gulch (USA) 9-2 (9-3) Held up, good headway on outside over 2f out, led inside final 2f, soon clear, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m mdn stk (5) pol beating Mawatheeq (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Always Ready 16-1 (8-4) In rear, ridden halfway, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4l behind Thebes (8-7) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp (2) gd.
