tracked leader, smooth headway to lead over 1f out, soon ridden and kept on well
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, headway to challenge inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
Strawberry Patch, Kings College Boy and Raccoon are the three to consider here and Kings College Boy is selected to maintain his good recent form. Raccoon has not won for almost three years and finds it hard to quicken in the closing stages. He showed enough though when not beaten far by the veteran Further Outlook last time to suggest he can hit a place on this faster ground. After some poor performances at the start of the season, Strawberry patch has hit form recently and scored in a big field at Musselburgh last time. He is clearly in good heart and can go well. Kings College Boy won his first race for some time when scoring at Beverley recently and has run well since, most notably when finishing a close fourth in a hot Newmarket handicap last time despite being hampered. Kings College Boy can take this.
Kings College Boy 13-2 (8-9) Held up, headway and hampered over 1f out, hung right under pressure inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 14, 2l behind Matsunosuke (9-2) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Raccoon (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous after, 6th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Further Outlook (8-13) at Hamilton 5f clm (6) gs in Jun.
Beyond The Clouds (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Slowly away, always behind, 14th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Endless Summer (9-1) at Haydock 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Strawberry Patch (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out and kept on well, won at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gd beating Percy Douglas (8-11) by 1l, 15 ran.
Geordie Dancer (IRE) 50-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, dropped rear after 2f, soon well behind, last of 11, 32l behind Our Sheila (9-3) at Carlisle 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Black Oval 14-1 (8-8) Led 4f, no extra final furlong, 9th of 12, 3l behind Boanerges (8-11) at Lingfield 6f banded stk (7) pol in Dec.