in touch, ridden over 2f out, gradually weakened
prominent, ridden, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, one pace after
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression
slowly into stride, behind, ridden, headway over 3f out to lead over 1f out, kept on
held up, ridden, headway 3f out to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
led, ridden over 3f out, soon headed, weakened
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on well to challenge final furlong, one pace after
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace after
towards rear, ridden, edged left 3f out, kept on final furlong
always towards rear
View From The Top is selected ahead of Surprise Pension and Rebel Pearl. Sir Mark Prescott's charges always have to be watched when making their way up the handicap and off a mark of 60, there is clearly room for maneouvre. Last week's run on Wolverhampton's polytrack represented an improvement and any rain should not worry on pedigree as his half-brother handled plenty of cut in the ground. Surprise Pension could be the surprise package. He landed a nice gamble at the course on his most recent outing although there is a suspicion that further rain would not suit. Rebel Pearl represents a yard from which runners are winning. The front-runner made all at Leicester and appears to handle any surface. Chookie Hamilton has ability but is proving difficult to win with at present. John Dillion is weighted to go close on his better form while Grethel should not be ignored at the bottom of the handicap as her yard are back in form and she has proven form with give underfoot. Plenty of imponderables to puzzle through and we take View From The Top to land the spoils.
Chookie Hamilton 33-1 (8-10) Held up, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 9l behind Secret Tune (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Rebel Pearl (IRE) 6-1 (8-9) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Musselburgh 7f 3yo hcp (6) gd in Jun beating Five Wishes (8-13) by 4l, 14 ran.
Dilwin (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression, 10th of 13, 8l behind Miacarla (8-9) at Redcar 5f mdn hcp (5) gs in Jun.
Nota Liberata 7-1 (9-4) Towards rear, driven and headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 14, 6l behind Rebel Pearl (8-9) at Musselburgh 7f 3yo hcp (6) gd in Jun.
View From The Top 9-2 (9-3) Soon led, headed over 1f out, stayed on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Trans Siberian (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn aut (6) pol in Jun.
Surprise Pension (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on to lead close home, won at Hamilton 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd in Jun beating Shandelight (8-5) by a hd, 12 ran.
Bivouac (UAE) 4-1 (8-11) Mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, kept on, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Sir Duke (8-12) at Redcar 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Jun.
Shandelight (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and led over 3f out, kept on until headed near finish, 2nd of 12, hd behind Surprise Pension (8-8) at Hamilton 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd in Jun.