towards rear, ridden 3f out, headway 2f out, soon one pace
slowly away and nearly unseated rider, behind, ridden over 3f out, eased well over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, no headway
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, chased leading pair over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased winner, ridden over 2f out, no impression
made all, ridden over 2f out, ran on gamely
keen, held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
keen, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong
Alfie Noakes looks the percentage call in this handicap and he is nominated to get the better of Opera Writer and Dzesmin. The selection was a little disappointing at Newbury last time but the soft ground may have been against him that day and he had previously been in decent form. He has trip and ground to suit here and he looks a decent bet to resume winning ways. Opera Writer was well beaten at Ascot last time but that was quite a competitive handicap and a reproduction of his winning effort at Warwick earlier this month would give him strong claims. Dzesmin finished down the field in a better race than this at Epsom last time and the handicapper may well have his measure at present. Crystal Prince appeals most of the others, but this looks a good opportunity for Alfie Noakes who is put forward as the pick.
Dzesmin (POL) 9-1 (8-6) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, no headway over 2f out, 11th of 15, 11l behind Bureaucrat (8-13) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jun.
Clueless 25-1 (9-0) Prominent, effort over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 11l behind Sir Duke (9-6) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Eva Soneva So Fast (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Always last, ridden and struggling final 4f, tailed off, last of 10, 47l behind Buster Hyvonen (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
Cruise Director 22-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 7l behind La Vecchia Scuola (9-1) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Crystal Prince 9-2 (9-3) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 18l behind Tufton (9-4) at Haydock 1m 3f hcap (5) gf in May.
Alfie Noakes 7-2 (9-6) Held up last, pushed along 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out but never going pace to trouble leaders, 6th of 7, 6l behind Pocketwood (8-13) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Channel Crossing 8-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 7, 10l behind Chookie Hamilton (8-13) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
John Dillon (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Always rear, 8th of 12, 19l behind Riley Boys (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Opera Writer (IRE) 10-1 (8-0) Very keen early, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 7l behind Hatton Flight (9-8) at Ascot 1m 4f app hcp (4) gs.