held up mid-division on outside, headway 3f out, effort to challenge when edged left 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, driven over 3f out, switched outside and effort to chase leaders well over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, no impression
tracked leader, driven 4f out, lost place over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened 2f out, eased over 1f out
slowly into stride, in rear, outpaced 3f out, never dangerous
held up in 4th, driven to chase leading pair over 3f out, effort when bumped 2f out, ridden and not much room over 1f out, switched right and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression
led, ridden and hard pressed 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong until headed and no extra towards finish
tracked leader, challenged 2f out, lost place when not much room over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression
mid-division, lost place and dropped towards rear 5f out, soon outpaced, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong to lead towards finish
held up behind, driven 3f out, headway to chase leaders when hung left over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace under pressure on inside final furlong, no impression
Nonrunner
A very interesting race where Kansai Spirit comes here in tremendous form but looks vulnerable to HERCULEAN, who gets the vote. The William Haggas-trained pick has gone up 7lbs for an eyecatching success on his handicap debut at Ffos Las. He acts with cut in the ground and stayed on well that day, giving plenty of hope that he will get this extra quarter-of-a-mile. Kansai Spirit is chasing a four-timer and was a course and distance scorer last time. He is 3lbs worse off with Crackentorp for just over a length that day, and with neither certain to go on the ground they look opposable. Proud Times has not yet won on turf but does act with cut, while Sunny Game will probably enjoy getting his toe in for the first time and looks a likely danger on his second handicap start.
The Betchworth Kid 40-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 9th of 16, 7l behind Precision Break (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-110 (2) gd.
Rangefinder 15-8fav (9-13) Mid-division, headway to lead 4f out, ridden and headed 2f out, rallied on inside rail inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Topolski (9-8) at Chester 2m hcp 0-95 (3) sft.
Crackentorp 18-1 (8-11) In touch, headway to challenge 2f out, ridden and every chanced over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 16, 1 1/4l behind Kansai Spirit (9-2) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Pippa Greene 40-1 (9-4) Mid-division until weakened 2f out, 26th of 32, 47l behind Caracciola (9-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcap (2) gd in Oct '08.
Proud Times (USA) 8-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 11, 7l behind Ottoman Empire (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Bollin Felix 13-2 (10-0) Dwelt, tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 9, 5l behind Cosmic Sun (9-11) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Becausewecan (USA) 4-1 (10-0) Tracked winner, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Cosmic Sun (9-11) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Herculean 7-2 (8-12) Steadied start, held up in close 4th, steady headway on outside to challenge going well 2f out, waited with until led 1f out, pushed along and quickened away, easily, won at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Aug beating Resentful Angel (9-11) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Sunny Game 5-2 (9-4) Dwelt, raced in rear but in touch, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Zuider Zee (9-1) at Chester 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Kansai Spirit (IRE) 4-1fav (9-2) Mid-division on outside, headway when hung left 3f out, led well over 1f out, soon ridden, edged left and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gf beating Red Cadeaux (9-5) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Siberian Tiger (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, stayed on inside final furlong, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 6l behind Senate (8-9) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gd.
