towards rear, driven and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead briefly inside final furlong, kept on same pace
held up behind leaders, effort when not much room over 1f out,no extra final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, effort when hampered over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on
stumbled at start, soon chased along, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, pushed along halfway, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, effort when hampered approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
raced alone far side in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace
prominent, pushed along halfway, weakened final furlong
led, headed 2f out and remained in touch, ran on to lead briefly inside final furlong, no extra close home
soon outpaced, never a factor
towards rear, never dangerous
chased leaders, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
mid-division, driven along 2f out, one pace final furlong
From a shortlist that contains Caribbean Coral, Smokin Beau, Sumora, Polish Emperor, Whistler and Whinhill House, we will side with Caribbean Coral. Caribbean Coral is well-weighted based on his winning form of last summer, and a repeat of the type of effort that saw him finish seventh in the Wokingham three runs ago would see him go well. He also races in cheekpieces for the first time today, although his draw is a slight concern. Smokin Beau won this race last year from a seven-pounds lower mark, but can still go well again. Talbot Avenue is running well but can't quite get his head in front from his current mark. A number of these are very familiar faces that win in their turn and, of them, Forever Phoenix, who is a course and distance winner, might go well back at this trip after being hampered at Chester last time. Sumora has always looked as though she can land a race of this nature and she races in a first-time tongue-tie today, so can go well with her stable in good heart, while Fictional comes here in good heart following a Newmarket success. Polish Emperor is closely weighted based on that form, and he is well-weighted based on the best of his Wolverhampton form. Whistler is eight pounds better off with Smokin Beau for the one-and-three-quarter lengths he finished behind him when fourth in this race last year, while Whinhill House is not far above a winning mark and will have his supporters. Overall, though, we will give the vote to Caribbean Coral.
Smokin Beau 20-1 (9-11) Chased leader stands' side until weakened over 1f out, 19th of 27, 8l behind Gift Horse (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Talbot Avenue 10-1 (9-0) Prominent, hung right from 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and not much room inside final furlong, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Indian Maiden (8-13) at Chester 6f lst stk (1) gd in Jul.
Maltese Falcon 20-1 (9-0) Raced centre, keen hold and steady in touch, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 8l behind Fire Up The Band (9-0) at Goodwood 5f Grp 3 (1) sft in Jul.
Fast Heart 20-1 (9-2) Not much room leaving stalls, raced centre, always behind, 14th of 18, 11l behind Corridor Creeper (9-10) at Newbury 5f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Texas Gold 11-4fav (9-2) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, ran on to chase winner close home, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Smokin Beau (9-3) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Jul.
Night Prospector 100-1 (9-0) Chased winner towards far side to over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Fire Up The Band (9-0) at Goodwood 5f Grp 3 (1) sft in Jul.
Forever Phoenix 12-1 (8-9) In touch, switched right over 1f out, soon hampered, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 7l behind Indian Maiden (8-13) at Chester 6f lst stk (1) gd in Jul.
Sumora (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) In touch, ridden 2f out to chase leaders, soon one pace, 6th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Smokin Beau (9-3) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Jul.
Desert Lord 12-1 (9-4) Close up, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 7l behind Mr Wolf (8-9) at Pontefract 6f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Fictional 13-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden and switched right inside final furlong, ran on to lead post, won at Newmarket 5f hcp (3) gf in Jul beating Mr Malarkey (8-9) by a shd, 12 ran.
Polish Emperor (USA) 13-2 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Fictional (9-2) at Newmarket 5f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Magic Glade 50-1 (8-3) Raced centre group, tracked leader, led overall over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, no extra near finish, 4th of 18, 2 1/2l behind Corridor Creeper (9-10) at Newbury 5f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Fromsong (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Raced wide with leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Bond Boy (9-1) at Nottingham 5f hcp (3) sft in Jul.
Whistler 20-1 (9-5) Always behind, 13th of 15, 9l behind Sierra Vista (9-1) at Goodwood 5f hcp (3) sft in Jul.
Caribbean Coral 20-1 (9-2) Hampered start, took keen hold in rear on far side, never dangerous, 22nd of 27, 9l behind Gift Horse (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Whinhill House 33-1 (8-7) Mid-division, effort 2f out, no impression, 8th of 15, 6l behind La Cucaracha (9-10) at York 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jul.
Right Answer 14-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Abientot (8-1) at Goodwood 5f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Jul.