tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, headway to challenge briefly 2f out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden over 4f out, kept on one pace
dwelt and behind, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace
always towards rear
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway to lead well over 1f out, kept on well
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten
led and keen early, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, not pace of winner
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, some headway until one pace from over 2f out
Not a bad handicap here where the leading players look to be Apsara, Mistress Twister, Touch Of Ivory and Chief Scout, and we take Apsara to score. George Moore's mare is in tremendous form at present, having won over a mile at both Pontefract and Beverley in the past three weeks, and on differing ground to boot. The step up to this trip should not pose much of a problem if pedigree is a reliable guide, and she looks capable of defying a 7lb rise. Mistress Twister is another going well. She is proven over this trip and is bang in form, although now races off a career-high mark of 74 as a result and may just have to give best here. Touch Of Ivory is another in-form runner who is due to go up in the weights from Saturday and is 3lb well in here on those revised ratings, so is entitled to plenty of respect, while Chief Scout has a bit to prove after disappointing at Ripon last time following a penalty, though he will get the trip. But Apsara is a mare in form and it can pay to follow her here.
Toshi (USA) 9-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression final 2f, 8th of 10, 5l behind Mr Aitch (9-3) at Chester 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Mistress Twister 5-1 (9-9) Held up, ridden and headway 3f out, kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Kahlua Kiss (9-6) at York 1m 2f fll hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Hawkit (USA) 6-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden well over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 3l behind Mr Aitch (9-3) at Chester 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Apsara 4-1 (8-11) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, led 1f out, ran on final furlong, won at Beverley 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Nevada Desert (9-5) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Insubordinate 9-1 (9-2) Held up, tracking leaders when not much room, well over 1f out, one pace after, 5th of 6, 5l behind Wind Star (9-13) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Bolton Hall (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, 5th early straight, 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on well, 3rd of 16, 3/4l behind Kuwait Tower (9-3) at Galway 7f hcp 0-70 gd.
Touch of Ivory (IRE) 6-1 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden and headway to lead over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Wing Commander (9-9) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Chief Scout 5-1 (9-9) In touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 6l behind Nelsons Column (9-4) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.