mid-division, headway on inside 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, took 2nd near finish
held up on outside, headway 3f out, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked winner, lost place over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, no impression
made virtually all, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on well
mid-division, lost place 2f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, outpaced 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer
behind, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not reached leaders
SPEAK THE TRUTH has returned to a winning mark and acts well here so we will take him to come back to form with a win, while Billy Red and Poppanan are among the dangers. The selection represents the in-form Jim Boyle stable and was a little out of sorts from 1lb higher at Kempton last time, though prior to that he was running to a consistent level of form. He has a fair draw here, and while he has done most of his winning over the minimum trip he has scored over course and distance so we will chance him at a sporting price. Billy Red is up 3lbs for a Wolverhampton win over this trip and is drawn nicely here. He is weighted to go well again, although the concern is that he has never shown his best when tried here on a number of previous occasions. Poppanan was driven out to land a Bath maiden last time and a mark of 72 awaits here for his handicap introduction, which should enable him to get competitive. Carmenero is on a decent mark but has won only once in 28 starts on artificial surfaces and never here, which puts us off, while Milne Bay has gone well on other Polytracks, but has become a victim of his own consistency and needs a favour from the assessor. The same comment applies to course and distance scorer Hellbender, who is likely to have a few pounds too many on his back today and Speak The Truth can take the prize.
Hellbender (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) Raced wide, held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Bahamian Lad (9-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sep.
Poppanan (USA) 25-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led just over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, just held on, won at Bath 6f mdn stks (5) gd in Sep beating Sometsuke (9-3) by hd, 10 ran.
Musical Script (USA) 14-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to trouble leaders, 5th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Arachnophobia (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep.
Izzi Mill (USA) 17-2 (9-0) Chased leader, pushed along 3f out, lost second over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Diktat Queen (9-0) at Chepstow 7f 3yo mdn fll stks (5) gd in Sep.
Billy Red 13-2 (9-1) Made all, pushed along over 1f out, driven out, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Sep beating Tudor Prince (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
The Magic of Rio 50-1 (8-9) Chased leaders over 3f, 7th of 8, 9l behind Evelyn May (8-1) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Carmenero (GER) 20-1 (9-0) Well in rear, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 2l behind Defector (8-11) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sep.
Speak The Truth (IRE) 11-2 (9-2) Pushed along and outpaced halfway, always in rear, last of 8, 6l behind Agnes Love (8-7) at Kempton 5f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Aug.
Milne Bay (IRE) 2-1fav (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 6l behind Bahamian Lad (9-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sep.
Highland Harvest 10-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 8l behind Mutamared (9-3) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Not My Choice (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) Soon pushed along to hold place in touch, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, finished well, not reached leaders, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Incomparable (8-7) at Doncaster 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Kyllachy Storm 8-1 (8-8) Stumbled start, missed with leader, lost place 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 8l behind Filligree (9-3) at Bath 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fm in Sep.
