held up behind, smooth headway after 3 out, tracked front pair approaching next, squeezed through to lead last, ridden out flat, stayed on well
prominent, lost place after 3 out, weakened next
mid-division on outside, close up 2nd, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, weakened from last
towards rear when not much room and fell 1st
went left 1st, tracked leader, led 3 out, joined next, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace, no impression with winner when lost 2nd flat
mid-division on inside, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner
mid-division, headway into 2nd after 3 out, upsides next, driven and every chance last, no extra in 4th flat
carried left 1st, tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, outpaced after 3 out, headway under pressure to chase leaders before next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never on terms
went left 1st, led, took keen hold, not fluent 4th, hung left and headed 3 out, soon weakened and behind, tailed off
A number of these look to be in the grip of the handicapper, including Kapstadt, Curious Carlos and impressive Imperial Cup winner John Constable, who has been hammered with a 14lb rise. Aintree winner Mad Jack Mytton has also struggled off his current mark in the past and last year’s winner Red Tornado is in poor form this time round. Ebony Express made a promising return to action after a year off when winning at Uttoxeter and gets in here off a lower mark than when winning the Imperial Cup in 2015, but in a wide-open race, STAR FOOT (NAP) could be the answer. He’s improved significantly this summer, posting career-best performances in each of his last two outings at this course and with more improvement to come, looks well-treated on these terms.
John Constable (IRE) 5-1fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway going well before 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear, ran on strongly, impressive, won at Haydock 2m hcp (1) gd in May beating Optimus Prime (11-8) by 14l, 17 ran.
Rossetti 3-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, led, not fluent 4th, headed 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Ebony Express (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, challenged going well next, led before last, ridden clear flat, won at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun beating Curious Carlos (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Curious Carlos 5-2fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon short of room, hampered and switched right, close 2nd when mistake last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Mad Jack Mytton (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Kapstadt (FR) 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, no impression, 7th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Dylan Mouth (9-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Red Tornado (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Always in rear, never a factor, tailed off, last of 7, 24l behind Rossetti (11-3) at Stratford 2m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Mystic Sky 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders on outside, 2nd before 2 out, led at 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Fit The Brief (11-3) by 14l, 7 ran.
Ebony Express 3-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, shaken up and went 2nd after 2 out, 1 /12 lengths down last, driven flat, stayed on to lead post, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Attest (10-6) by shd, 6 ran.
Star Foot (IRE) 9-4 (11-11) Held up in touch in rear, headway 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Jun beating Domtaline (11-0) by 2l, 5 ran.
Nucky Thompson 33-1 (9-13) In rear, ridden over 2f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Mistress Quickly (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jun.
