chased winner, ridden over 3f out, not pace to challenge
soon led, ridden over 1f out, ran on
held up and keen, ridden over 3f out, no impression
always behind, eased final furlong
held up, effort 3f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out
led early, lost place after 2f, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened final furlong
Salinor gets our vote here ahead of Hills Of Gold. Looking through the field. Summer View is back to the mark he last won from - last October at Pontefract. His stable is in good form now and this represents his best chance of the season so far. Camelot has been raised two pounds for a narrow Redcar win, his first of the season, and the fairly lightly-raced son of Machiavellian can still prove competitive from his current mark. Topton won at Doncaster in July but is now two pounds higher in the ratings, which seems to have him set at just about the right mark. Adobe won from a mark of 69 in July and, although he has not won since, he is back to a mark that is just two pounds higher than for that success. However, others are preferred in terms of nominating the winner. Saarraf is 14lbs better off with Hills Of Gold for having finished around six lengths behind him at Beverley last time, so he comes into the reckoning, certainly from his current mark. Hills Of Gold comes here on a three-timer and stepped up on that Beverley win to win comfortably at Chester eight days ago. He looked to be very much on an upward curve that day and could well pay to follow once again here. Rose Of America won from a mark of 63 last September (now on 65) but her rider claims a useful five pounds and don't be surprised if she claims some money today. The handicapper is at last beginning to relent with Fortune Point, a fact that should show him in a better light today. But, for us, Salinor is the interesting one. Lightly-raced and quite well related, he finished second to the subsequent easy Salisbury winner Borrego last time, when meeting trouble in running. From a mark just four-pounds higher than for that effort, he has the look of a well-handicapped horse and, as such, gets the vote.
