chased leader, ridden and every chance 1f out, not pace of winner inside final furlong
slightly hampered start, held up, always towards rear
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no impression
held up towards rear, well beaten over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
switched right soon after start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression
towards rear, hampered 2f out, soon behind
went slightly right start, prominent, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, never in contention
A very tricky race to conclude proceedings, and a case can be made out for many of them, but we will side with handicap debutant QUASI CONGAREE to see off Fantasy Gladiator and My Sweet Georgia. The vote just goes in favour of the selection on account of his unexposed profile, having had three starts in maidens and gone well in the latter pair in defeats at Yarmouth and Ripon. He has been put away for three months, so he returns fresh and with the yard going well enough and a mark of 70 not frightening we will side with him. Fantasy Gladiator won a Southwell maiden over this trip and is raised 4lbs for that, but this looks more competitive so we will oppose. Ben's Dream will probably want slower ground to be at his best, and it will be tough from this mark, while the latter comment applies to course and distance winner Rondeau. My Sweet Georgia is 4lbs above the mark from which she won a 6f Southwell handicap in January so she can get competitive, although she does appear to prefer that slower surface. Perfect Act is on the slide in the weights and if backed would be more interesting, while Retro is respected back over this trip and down to a mark of 71. We can pick only one though, and that one is Quasi Congaree.
Dvinsky (USA) 28-1 (9-5) Pressed leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Santefisio (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Rondeau (GR) 18-1 (8-12) Fly jumped leaving stalls, behind, headway when not clear run inside final furlong, never nearer, 8th of 15, 5l behind Johnstown Lad (9-5) at Bath 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Onceaponatime (IRE) 9-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden well over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 7l behind Colorus (8-0) at Yarmouth 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Retro (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Chased leaders over 3f, 12th of 15, 22l behind Maswerte (9-7) at Newbury 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Fantasy Gladiator 11-4 (9-3) Carried head awkwardly, tracked leaders, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to join leader entering final furlong, soon driven along, led final strides, gamely, won at Southwell 6f mdn auc stks (5) fbs in Aug beating Milldown Story (8-12) by nk, 7 ran.
Top Town Girl 8-1 (8-11) Disputed lead, led halfway, headed 2f out, weakened quickly, last of 4, 10l behind Son Of The Cat (9-7) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) std in Aug.
Perfect Act 7-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, driven over 1f out, ran on to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Steelcut (8-10) at Kempton 6f clm stks 0-70 (5) pol.
Quasi Congaree (GER) 5-1 (9-3) Led, ridden along 2f out, kept on until headed well inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind New Leyf (9-3) at Ripon 6f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Song of Praise 33-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 10l behind Perfect Silence (9-7) at Kempton 7f fll hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
My Sweet Georgia (IRE) 2-1fav (8-5) Mid-division, ridden after 2f, kept on to take poor 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind La Capriosa (8-7) at Southwell 6f 3yo clm stks (6) fbs in Mar.
Ben's Dream (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Prominent, keen early, lost place 3f out, weakening when hampered over 2f out, 7th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Medicean Man (9-3) at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Jul.
Leading Edge (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden halfway, never troubled leaders, last of 11, 14l behind Sea Salt (8-6) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
