in rear, switched left 5f out, headway 3f out, ridden and beaten over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, eased
made all, hard pressed final 2f, stayed on well, holding 2nd towards finish
pressed winner, strong challenge from 2f out, stayed on, held towards finish
went right and slowly into stride, chased leaders, outpaced 3f out, soon weakened, eased
Aces took a big drop in class to land a Chester claimer last month as he'd been racing exclusively in Class 2 handicaps. Nkosikazi changed stables and has produced two fine efforts in the last few weeks though has gone up 5lb without winning. Mutaraffa won twice over the 7f track here in May before finding Class 2 handicaps too much for him at Haydock but SPIRIT WARNING followed a victory at Chelmsford with a narrow defeat at Windsor and can get back to winning ways providing the ground isn't too firm. Hajjam has won more than his fair share of races though hasn't been in the best of form.
Aces (IRE) 7-2 (9-12) Chased leading pair, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden into narrow lead 100 yards out, just held on, all out, won at Chester 1m stks (4) gd in Jun beating Call Out Loud (9-4) by ns, 10 ran.
Hajjam 33-1 (8-11) Towards rear far side, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 12th of 17, 5l behind Vale Of Kent (9-4) at Newmarket 7f (2) gf in Jul.
Mutaraffa (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Ridden away from stalls, soon racing keenly, tried to go up inside and gap closed 6f out, 2nd after, ridden and hanging left over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 7, 6 3/4l behind Beat Le Bon (9-7) at Haydock 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Spirit Warning 7-2 (8-8) Took keen hold, led, ridden 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind Waarif (9-12) at Windsor 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
You Never Can Tell (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, not striding out well and soon pulled up, at Lingfield 6f stks (2) pol in Apr.
Nkosikazi 17-2 (9-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Wings Of Time (9-5) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Jul.