led, ridden and headed just over 1f out, no extra, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 1f out, took 2nd well inside final furlong, not trouble winner
mid-division, hampered 3f out, behind afterwards, headway over 1f out, kept on, not trouble leaders
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, keeping on when hampered and checked over 1f out, not recover
started slowly, soon in touch, ridden 3f out, hung left and right, soon lost place, weakened over 2f out, eased final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not reach leaders
tracked leaders to over 2f out, weakened rapidly over 1f out
close up on outside, effort over 2f out, soon hung badly left, edged right over 1f out, not trouble leaders 1f out, kept on one pace
towards rear, hampered 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no headway, never dangerous
tracked leader, ridden 4f out, effort over 2f out, not pace to challenge over 1f out, lost 2nd well inside final furlong
held up in rear, good headway 2f out, ridden and quicken to lead just over 1f out, clear inside final furlong and pushed out readily
A difficult handicap to solve and SWEET LIGHTNING is the selection ahead of Slip while Checklow, who was very disappointing last time when beaten at short-odds cannot be discounted despite that lacklustre effort. Third in a rather muddling contest at Ripon on his last outing, Sweet Lightning could never pick up on the soft surface there. The selection did not receive the clearest of passages either on his penultimate start but was a very easy winner at Chester earlier in the season. It appears as if Sweet Lightning did have valid excuses for his defeats of late and he can put the record straight here. Slip has recieved a 5lb hike for a second placing at Sandown last time out, the third home in that event having subsequently franked the form. Checklow is highly regarded and his effort at Doncaster was clearly not his true running. That said, he was beaten a long way out and whether a reason was found for that is unknown. Meshtri and the hat-trick seeking Dance The Star are others to consider but Sweet Lightning gets the vote.
Midships (USA) 11-4 (8-10) Slowly away, soon prominent, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon one pace, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Humungous (9-7) at Ascot 1m 2f stk 0-95 (2) gf in Jul.
Inventor (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Mid-division, pushed along over 5f out, headway 3f out, pressing leaders well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind Daraahem (9-6) at Haydock 1m 6f 3yo hcp (3) sft in Aug.
Fiulin 14-1 (9-3) Took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, driven and weakened 2f out, 9th of 16, 9l behind Colony (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Meshtri (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Daraahem (9-6) at Haydock 1m 6f 3yo hcp (3) sft in Aug.
Checklow (USA) 4-7fav (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Nanton (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Sweet Lightning 11-4 (9-7) Held up behind leaders, ridden along and headway over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Blimey O'Riley (8-5) at Ripon 1m 4f 3yo hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Safari Sunup (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Mid-division, lost place over 4f out, 7th of 10, 24l behind Patkai (9-4) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gd in May.
Slip 15-8fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, quickened to lead narrowly inside final furlong, no extra and headed final stride, 2nd of 9, hd behind Novikov (9-9) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug.
Dance The Star (USA) 9-2 (9-7) Held up in last pair, headway from 3f out, edged left and led over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jul beating Brexca (9-6) by 4l, 7 ran.
Reclamation (IRE) 11-4 (9-4) Went left start, keen in touch, pushed along over 3f out, wide and effort 2f out, driven and took 2nd near finish, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Inchwood (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 5f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jul.
Starfala 3-1jt-fav (8-12) Pressed leader, effort 2f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final 100 yards and asserted towards finish, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn fll (4) pol in Jul beating Amhooj (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
