soon in touch, went 3rd 5f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed and kept on well inside final furlong
keen, mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
always in rear
led, ridden and headed narrowly over 2f out, still every chance entering final furlong, kept on one pace
held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd close home
mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, driven to lead well inside final furlong
held up, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
Pontefract winner Braveheart Move would have every chance if able to reproduce a similar level of form today but Sir Mark Prescott's colt was well held in the Melrose at York last month and a better bet looks to be MERCHANT OF DUBAI, who gets the vote ahead of Antigua Sunrise. Richard Fahey's filly will not mind the underfoot conditions but she has paid the penalty at the hands of the handicapper for a hat-trick of successes earlier in the year and may be too high in the weights at present so looks booked for a place at best. Mark Johnston's Petrovsky has shown a decent level of form in his seven races, winning three times, but he has yet to prove that he handles ground as soft as this and looks best watched. Bryan Smart's Sanctuary will have no problems with the underfoot conditions but has harshly been raised 4lbs following his fair second behind Rangefinder at Thirsk earlier this month. Gordonsville looks the pick of Jim Goldie's two runners ahead of Graceful Descent having been running consistently well this term but a better bet looks to be Merchant Of Dubai. Alan Swinbank's gelding dead heated at Newmarket last time and a 3lb rise for that is perfectly fair. The softer surface today should be of no concern to the four-year-old and he is taken to give weight away all round.
Merchant Of Dubai 3-1 (9-11) Always prominent, raced keenly, led 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, joined on post, won at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug deadheating with Recession Proof (8-8), 7 ran.
Just Lille (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Held up in 7th, not clear run on rail over 2f out, soon switched right, kept on inside final furlong, no danger, 7th of 11, 10l behind Nanton (9-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Hindu Kush (IRE) 18-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3f out, gradually weakened, 8th of 14, 10l behind Yes Mr President (8-9) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gs.
Petrovsky 3-1fav (8-13) Made all, ridden and edged right over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf beating Sehoy (8-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Gordonsville 12-1 (8-9) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace, not troubled leaders, 5th of 15, 6l behind Swingkeel (9-2) at York 2m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug.
Braveheart Move (IRE) 13-2 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 7l behind Akmal (9-3) at York 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.
Chookie Hamilton 20-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, 8th of 10, 24l behind Jadalee (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Sanctuary 7-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway and effort 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Rangefinder (9-10) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Antigua Sunrise (IRE) 7-2 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 8, 8l behind Kaloni (9-6) at Ripon 1m 2f flls hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
Graceful Descent (FR) 1-4fav (9-3) Held up in touch, pushed along 4f out, ridden to chase leader 2f out, soon every chance, driven to lead inside final furlong, gained upper hand towards finish, won at Hamilton 1m 3f clm stks (6) sft in Aug beating Cecina Marina (8-5) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
