An open contest in which STAR OF VALOUR is taken to shed his maiden tag at the 10th time of asking. His ability to handle heavy conditions was confirmed here last time when only beaten a nose by the re-opposing Remmy D. Lynn Siddall's gelding is taken to turn the form around on 5lb better terms. Retirement Beckons was third on that occasion and this consistent sort should be on the premises again off an unchanged mark if handling the forecast heavy ground. A few others can also be thrown into the mix including the nicely-treated John Caesar, hurdler Minnie The Minx and Cliff Bay.
Chinese Spirit (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 13th of 16, 12 1/4l behind Royal Shaheen (9-11) at Carlisle 1m 1f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Zealous (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Prominent, led 9f out until 8f out, chased leader, ridden 2f out, lost 2nd soon after, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 8 1/4l behind Sulafaat (10-4) at Ripon 1m 3f hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Remmy D (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Chased leader, led f out, driven 2 lengths ahead over 1f out, stayed on, all out, won at Hamilton 1m hcp (6) hvy in Aug beating Star Of Valour (9-5) by ns, 8 ran.
Can Can Sixty Two 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 12, 15 1/2l behind Hugoigo (10-8) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (6) gs in Aug.
Cache Queen (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Pushed along briefly early, soon mid-division, headway and effort from under 3f out, no extra and one pace from over 1f out, 6th of 14, 13l behind Aasleagh Fawn (8-9) at Bellewstown 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Star Of Valour (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Held up in last pair, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards and closed strongly, just failed, 2nd of 8, shd behind Remmy D (9-5) at Hamilton 1m hcp (6) hvy in Aug.
Retirement Beckons 4-1 (9-4) Soon in touch in 5th, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd 2f out, driven and stayed on same pace over 1f out, lost 2nd and weakened final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Remmy D (9-5) at Hamilton 1m hcp (6) hvy in Aug.
Cliff Bay (IRE) 11-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Betty Grable (8-12) at Carlisle 1m hcp (6) gf in Aug.
Tarnhelm 6-1 (8-10) Slowly away, rapid headway on wide outside chasing leaders before halfway, went 2nd 3f out, rider dropped whip over 2f out, every chance 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Placebo Effect (9-8) at Carlisle 1m hcp (6) gf in Aug.
Dutch Artist (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Slowly away, always behind, 5th of 9, 15l behind Gravity Wave (11-5) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (6) hvy in Aug.
My Valentino (IRE) 18-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, behind, headway over 1f out never nearer, 6th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Betty Grable (8-12) at Carlisle 1m hcp (6) gf in Aug.
Millie The Minx (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on, went 4th close home, 4th of 14, 9 1/4l behind True Romance (9-10) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (6) gs in Aug.
Doon Star 7-1 (9-3) Held up in mid-division, some headway over 1f out, no impression, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Retirement Beckons (9-6) at Ayr 1m hcp (6) hvy in Aug.
John Caesar (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, switched left and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Brutalab (9-2) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (6) gf in Aug.
Smart Lass (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Never better than mid-division, lost place and behind over 5f out, no danger after, 12th of 14, 26 1/4l behind King And Queen (8-7) at Hamilton 1m 3f hcp (6) gd in Jul.
