held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong until no extra towards finish
led, headed over 6f out, remained close up, weakened well over 1f out
chased leaders, led over 4f out, stayed on well
held up in rear, effort 3f out, soon outpaced
tracked leaders and keen, led over 6f out, headed over 4f out, weakened 2f out
close up, weakened over 3f out
towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
slowly into stride, soon mid-division, chased leaders over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway over 4f out, chased winner and every chance over 2f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, one pace
Nonrunner
BORDER TALE, Edas and Rare Coincidence have all been running respectably recently, and the first named gets the nod. James Moffatt's gelding's two career wins have come over this sort of distance, both back in the autumn, while last month he ran twice being runner up on both occasions in similarly lowly handicaps. Edas is onto his fourth trainer in just over a month, changing yards after a seller and two claimers. Regularly at the vanguard he's not beenm getting his nose in front, but is the highest rated here, and remains competitive with a five pound claimer on board. Rare Coincidence and Front Rank are the only course and distance winners in the field, with the latter having won this contest last year. However he's nought from 11 since then. Rare Coincidence won a stayers' handicap at Wolverhampton three runs back following a couple of goes at jumps. Once rated as high as 112, he's now at a competitive mark for his current ability. It may not take much winning, but our preference is for Border Tale.
Edas 6-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on under pressure to go 3rd inside final furlong, never near leaders, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Realism (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f clm stks (5) fbs.
Rare Coincidence 11-2 (9-11) Led to over 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Eforetta (8-11) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Apr.
Hi Dancer 4-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, steady headway over 5f out, ridden and weakening when not much room over 2f out, 8th of 11, 16l behind Safin (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcap (6) pol in Jan.
Simple Jim (FR) 6-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, ridden 4f out, kept on to go moderate 4th over 1f out, 4th of 8, 11l behind Victory Quest (9-11) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) fbs in Dec.
Midnite Blews (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, took keen hold in rear, stayed on final 2f, never nearer, 6th of 14, 5l behind Dimashq (8-13) at Ripon 1m 4f ldy hcp 0-65 (6) gs.
Front Rank (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden and one pace final 2f, 7th of 14, 5l behind Dimashq (8-13) at Ripon 1m 4f ldy hcp 0-65 (6) gs.
Border Tale 4-1 (8-11) Held up, driven and outpaced over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure on outside over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Dramatic Solo (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 5f app hcp (6) gf in May.
Beauchamp Unique 100-1 (10-4) Always behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, 41l behind Aureate (11-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f am sell stks (6) pol.
Jane of Arc (FR) 20-1 (7-9) Held up, outpaced 4f out, ridden 3f out, never on terms, last of 4, 9l behind Forrest Flyer (8-12) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Sultana (GER) 50-1 (8-3) Always towards rear, 15th of 16, 30l behind Tipper Road (8-13) at Limerick 1m 3f app hcp sft in Apr.
Wulimaster (USA) 5-1 (8-12) Held up, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 9, 16l behind Desert Destiny (8-12) at Catterick 1m 6f 4yo sell stks (6) gf.
Hunting Haze 50-1 (8-3) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 27l behind Zefooha (9-1) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in May.
