raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression
raced keenly, held up, outpaced 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders
tracked leader, challenged and every chance 2f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong, always held
tracked leaders, headway on inside over 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final 2f, edged left and kept on final furlong
BEA MENACE can land the nightcap at the main expense of Arachnophobia and My Best Bet. The selection was an impressive winner over this course and distance when last seen out. She comfortably beat Dance And Dance that day and she looks a good bet to follow-up. My Best Bet has got a fair strike-rate on the all-weather and she ran well in a competitive handicap at Doncaster last time. She also more specifically goes well here so she has to be on the shortlist. Arachnophobia won here two starts ago but he failed to replicate the form here last time and the handicapper may now be catching up with him. Sunshine Always was not disgraced from a poor draw here last time so she is another who has to be given some hope. However, it is hard to look beyond Bea Menace who gets the pick.
Bea Menace (USA) 10-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Dance And Dance (8-13) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Touching (IRE) 66-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, always in rear, last of 9, 22l behind Strawberrydaiquiri (8-12) at Sandown 1m fll lst stks (1) gf in Aug.
Sunshine Always (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Steadied start, soon dropped to inside well in rear, raced keenly, headway 2d out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 11, 6l behind Burgundy Ice (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Arachnophobia (IRE) 4-1fav (9-0) With leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 3l behind Captain Macarry (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Bay Knight (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Soon mid-division, pushed along halfway, under pressure in 6th 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 12, 4l behind Zhukhov (9-3) at Listowel 6f hcp 50-80 sft in Sep.
Snow Bay 20-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Mabait (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
My Best Bet 20-1 (9-2) Behind, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Steel Stockholder (7-13) at Doncaster 7f 3yo app hcp 0-75 (5) gd.