chased leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, soon one pace
held up, headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, weakened
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, switched left inside final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, held up in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead post
chased leaders, led inside final furlong, headed post
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, never nearer
behind, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
always behind
held up, badly hampered 2f out, ridden and headway inside final furlong, ran on
held up towards rear, some headway over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, easily
held up in touch, ridden and held when badly hampered inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, weakened
held up, headway over 1f out, staying on when badly hampered inside final furlong, not recover
Compton Banker can follow up his recent victory, with Sir Desmond and Prima Stella two of the main dangers. Compton Banker was good enough to land the Portman Handicap at Doncaster three years ago but has paid the penalty since. Only over the past six months has the handicapper started to relent, and the six-year-old was finally able to come good off a mark of 70 here just over three weeks ago. That was over seven furlongs, but Gerard Butler¿s charge has the speed for the drop back, and now that he has his confidence back, can be followed. Sir Desmond shaped well on his first start on the Polytrack, finishing third to Texas Gold, despite racing on the unfavoured inside rail, and should be in the thick of things, as should Prima Stella. She usually struts her stuff on the slower fibresand surface, but has been running well, and in receipt of weight all round, is not to be discounted. The rest are mainly out of form, and our selection is Compton Banker