held up last, travelling well when not clear run on inside and switched left over 2f out, went 2nd and switched left to inside well over 1f out, led 1f out, soon clear, stayed on strongly, eased close home
took keen hold, tracked leading trio, went 3rd over 6f out, chased leader over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, readily outpaced inside final furlong
soon led, headed 12f out, chased leader until pushed along over 3f out, stayed in 3rd and one pace final 2f
chased leader, led 12f out, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leading pair until ridden along over 6f out, stayed in 3rd under pressure, one pace final 2f
Fire Fighter had looked progressive before his latest poor effort at Pontefract and it's hard to know what to make of him now, while it was only a maiden handicap that Secret Edge won at Goodwood last time and he has a bit to prove here on slightly worse terms with the runner-up Compassion. Mountain Myst is hard to fancy so the vote goes to RIEN NE VAS PLUS. She's not in the same league as her illustrious half-brothers North Light, Researched and Cover Up but this longer trip should bring out the best in her and she can open her account on her handicap debut.
Fire Fighter (IRE) 3-1fav (9-5) Prominent, led and edged left over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 16, 9l behind Petella (9-7) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Rien Ne Vas Plus (IRE) 13-2 (8-6) Held up in touch, headway to chase winner well over 2f out, soon no impression, eased close home, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Wayward Glance (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 6f mdn stks (5) gs in Aug.
Secret Edge 3-1 (9-4) Always prominent, driven to challenge over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Goodwood 2m 3yo mdn hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Aug beating Compassion (9-4) by nk, 8 ran.
Compassion 16-1 (9-4) Led, strongly challenged from over 3f out, hard ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on well, 2nd of 8, nk behind Secret Edge (9-4) at Goodwood 2m 3yo mdn hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Aug.
Mountain Myst 12-1 (8-4) Tracked leader, under pressure over 6f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 13l behind Mina's Boy (9-1) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Aug.