slowly into stride in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on, never near leaders
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
held up, good headway from 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, ridden and weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towrads finish
This is a competitive handicap where Jonjo O'Neill's SPECTAIT is taken to score ahead of Masai Moon and Golden Desert. There are a few ifs and buts about the selection but the trip isn't one of them with him holding a 50% strike rate over it. His fourth of 23 runners in a better race at Newbury last time hinted he is near his best and he races off a winning mark. Masai Moon won on his only attempt over course and distance and is still reasonably weighted after some decent performances under heavier burdens recently. The ground shouldn't trouble him and he should be in the mix again. Golden Desert is still six pounds higher than his last victory and while it seems he needs to find a bit more to win here his run last time puts him in the picture. Bold Cross and I Confess now look a little high in the weights so the winning hand seems to belong to Spectait.
Spectait 25-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, good headway 3f out to lead just over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 23, 2l behind Extraterrestrial (8-12) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Masai Moon 7-1 (9-7) Raced far side, close up, lead over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Captain Brilliance (9-9) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jun.
Big Noise 20-1 (8-12) Towards rear far side, never dangerous, 20th of 29, 10l behind Furnace (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gd in Sep.
Golden Desert (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Raced stands side, chased leaders, ridden to lead briefly well over 1f out, one pace under pressure inside final furlong, 6th of 29, 3 1/2l behind Giganticus (8-12) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Woodcote Place 11-2 (9-6) In touch on inside, challenged 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well until headed well inside final furlong and readily held, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Silaah (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
Saucy Brown (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) In touch, lost place 4f out, soon well behind, kept on again final furlong, never dangerous, 11th of 16, 15l behind Ouqba (9-1) at Royal Ascot 7f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Oceana Blue 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 9, 11l behind Victoria Sponge (9-0) at Goodwood 7f flls hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
I Confess 7-2fav (9-1) Led 2f, with leader, led again over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed narrowly final 75 yards, rallied to lead again near finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jun beating Billberry (8-9) by shd, 12 ran.
Bold Cross (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Held up, headway over 2f out, driven to lead approaching final furlong, kept on, won at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun beating Reel Buddy Star (8-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Parisian Dream 28-1 (9-2) Always behind, 8th of 10, 7l behind Desert Dreamer (8-8) at Chester 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Key Signature 9-1 (9-5) Soon pressed leader, effort 3f out, soon ridden and weakened from 2f out, last of 9, 12l behind Kyllachy Star (9-9) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Jun.
