held up in touch, pushed along over 3f out, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, pushed along 4f out, no impression
mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, one pace final 3f
in touch, headway to lead over 2f out, pushed out
in touch, weakened 3f out
mid-division, pushed along headway 3f out, effort 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, kept on
In the finale, Dig Gold is selected ahead of Grand Heights and Alpes Maritimes. Alpes Maritimes's form rates in the mid-70s and he has to be given some thought, while Dig Gold, who is well-related and whose stable is in good form, has to be considered based on his Leicester debut promise, although he has a length-and-a-half to find with Grand Heights based on that run, but he is now a pound better off. Silmi is a potential improver over today's longer trip, while Sowdrey's second to Danish Rebel at Musselburgh gives him place claims. Spice Route is entitled to improve on his debut effort earlier in the month, while Yossi is also open to improvement. It looks to be a fairly competitive finale, then, on a competitive card at Haydock, with the selection being Dig Gold.
Alpes Maritimes 9-2 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden, led over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, headed, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Bergonzi (8-8) at Leicester 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gf.
Dig Gold (USA) 11-4fav (8-8) Keen, soon in touch, ridden to chase winner 3f out, carried slightly left over 1f out, soon edged right, kept on final furlong, 4th of 10, 2l behind Right To Play (9-13) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf.
Grand Heights (IRE) 7-2 (8-7) Pulled hard, held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Right To Play (9-13) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf.
Rhaam 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 13, 8l behind Arabian Gulf (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gf.
Silmi 6-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Boscobel (9-0) at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Nov.
Sowdrey 15-2 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Danish Rebel (8-8) at Musselburgh 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gf.
Spice Route 50-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, never near leaders, 7th of 13, 9l behind Arabian Gulf (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gf.
Yossi (IRE) Evensfav (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, switched right 2f out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 12, 5l behind Shimoni (8-12) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 2yo mdn (5) sft in Oct.