tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, steady headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leading trio 3f out, soon one pace
in touch, headway to chase leader 8f out, weakened 4f out, soon tailed off
held up, headway halfway to go prominent, led over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, headed line
held up mid-division, steady headway 3f out, ridden and ran on strongly from over 1f out, led line
held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, ridden to chase leader over 3f out, faded
soon tracking leaders, lost place 6f out, well behind final 4f
slowly into stride, always well behind
led, reminders 5f out, ridden over 4f out and headed, weakened quickly and virtually pulled up
Maniatis should prove difficult to beat and is a confident selection, with Another Con, Mustang Ali and Distant Cousin playing for the places. Maniatis threw away his chance at Wolverhampton last time when hanging and running very wide on the home turn, otherwise he would have gone close to beating Bid For Fame. That was a claimer, and Nick Littmoden's charge now drops down to selling company again, so will once again be a big fish in a little pool, and with George Baker on board to stop his tendency to hang to the right, he should make amends in what is a poor contest. Another Con was well down the field at Leicester last time but this dual Wolverhampton scorer will be more at home back on this easy flat track. Mustang Ali ran out of steam at Folkestone and is hard to fancy, while Distant Cousin is a course and distance winner but is held by the selection on latest Wolverhampton running. The visored Maniatis should prove too good for his rivals today.
Another Con (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Held up, ridden 3f out, no impression and eased from over 1f out, 13th of 16, 21l behind Eijaaz (9-12) at Leicester 1m 2f sll (6) gd in May.
Beyond The Pole (USA) 12-1 (9-5) Track leaders, ridden 4f out, soon outpaced, weakened quickly 2f out, last of 9, 25l behind Lennel (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 5f stk (E3) pol in Jan.
Blau Grau (GER) 50-1 (8-9) Always rear, tailed off final 3f, 18th of 19, 37l behind Lyrical Way (9-11) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp (6) gf in May.
Distant Cousin 20-1 (8-9) Held up in touch, ridden over 4f out, soon struggling, 5th of 7, 17l behind Bid For Fame (8-0) at W'hampton 1m 6f clm (6) pol.
Maniatis 2-1 (9-4) Chased winner after 2f, hung badly right over 3f out, ran very wide and lost 2nd entering straight, soon beaten, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Bid For Fame (8-0) at W'hampton 1m 6f clm (6) pol.
Mustang Ali (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) In touch, driven along and close up 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 6l behind Iamback (8-1) at Folkestone 1m 4f hcp (6) gf.
Black Draft 20-1 (8-12) Started very slowly, in rear, moderate headway over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 10, 12l behind Jamaican (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo sll (6) pol in May.
In The Shadows 33-1 (8-7) Always towards rear, 19th of 20, 29l behind Granary Girl (8-12) at Bath 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gf.