tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, one pace
prominent and keen, ridden 4f out, weakened when hampered 2f out, eased over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 5f out, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out and one pace
never on terms
towards rear, headway 6f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, no progress from over 1f out
prominent and keen, weakening when not clear run over 3f out
towards winner, headway over 2f out, hampered 2f out, switched right and ran on well to lead inside final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened quickly
mid-division, lost place over 4f out, headway over 3f out to track leaders, ridden and edged left 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
slowly into stride, ridden and some progress over 2f out, soon held
in touch, hampered after 1f and lost place, raced in mid-division, led approaching final furlong, all out when headed inside final furlong
Nonrunner
Blackmail gets the vote in a competitive opener over The City Kid and Scar Tissue. The selection is a course and distance winner who has scored four times here and he is dropped into a seller after finishing in mid-division in an apprentice handicap at Brighton. This looks a particularly weak contest and he should be up to regaining the winning thread. The City Kid is a viable alternative as she was a fair third in this grade last time behind Chant De Guerre. However, she is probably better over a slightly shorter trip and for that reason we will take her on. Scar Tissue is an interesting filly as she has only had the two runs and if she improves for the step-up in trip then she should enter calculations. Fulvio has never won over anything beyond a mile so can't be recommended with any confidence, and we will stick with Blackmail who can capitalise on this drop in class.
Blackmail (USA) 12-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, headway over 2f out, never able to challenge, 6th of 10, 12l behind Bienheureux (8-10) at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp (6) gd.
Dexileos (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Raced wide in mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 13, 12l behind Le Chiffre (9-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll hcp (6) pol.
Fulvio (USA) 14-1 (8-11) Never a factor, 10th of 13, 5l behind Ceredig (8-8) at Lingfield 7f sll hcp (6) pol in Jun.
Marbaa (IRE) 6-1 (9-6) Always behind, 12th of 14, 16l behind Chant de Guerre (8-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f sll (6) gd.
Takes Tutu (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Always behind, 8th of 14, 12l behind Don Pasquale (8-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jun.
Kilmeena Magic 25-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 16, 10l behind Drawback (8-13) at Bath 1m 2f hcp (6) gs in Jun.
Scar Tissue 50-1 (8-9) Took keen hold early, close up in 4th, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Cliche (8-9) at Windsor 1m mdn fll (5) gd in May.
The City Kid (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Behind, headway over 2f out, driven to go moderate 3rd just inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Chant de Guerre (8-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f sll (6) gd.