held up in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, no extra towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, rallied to regain lead inside final furlong, kept on gamely
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression
tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, soon no extra, weakened towards finish
held up in rear, outpaced 3f out
LIGHT THE CITY has to shoulder a penalty for his soft ground success at Haydock last time, but the good ground here can help him to do that and we will take him to successfully drop in trip at the main expense of Park's Prodigy, Maid Of Meft and Golden Future. The last-named is just 3lbs higher than his sole Flat win, which came on good ground and over 1m 3f last year. He has been backed on his last two starts, including when tonight's pilot Paul Hanagan was up last time and he came up short, so those thinking of a wager will have to make a judgement call. Maid Of Meft represents a red-hot yard and makes her handicap debut from a mark of 65. She was well beaten over this trip when tried at it last time at Catterick, but she is probably capable of better in this sphere and money for her would be very interesting. Park's Prodigy is another coming from a stable going well. Geoff Harker's charge has been in decent nick all season and loves it here, so with conditions to suit he has to be taken seriously, though we will side with Light The City. (Jonathan Doidge)
Park's Prodigy 9-4 (9-6) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, chased winner 9f out until ridden 2f, went 2nd again towards finish, no impression, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Wadnaan (9-7) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Maid Of Meft 11-2 (8-9) Slowly into stride, soon chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along over 5f out, went 3rd over 2f out, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Nezhenka (8-9) at Catterick 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) gf in Jul.
Golden Future 11-4fav (8-10) Held up mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 17l behind Gulf Coast (8-11) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Light The City (IRE) 8-1 (7-11) Held up in touch, raced stand side from over 4f out, led stand side group over 2f out and overall leader, soon ridden, kept on well, won at Haydock 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Jul beating Head Hunted (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Always Dixie (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Pressed leader, ridden over 2f out, led well over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Valantino Oyster (8-12) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo sll hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jul.
Quitao (GER) 22-1 (9-3) Led until riiden and headed inside final 3f, chased leader until over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 7, 28l behind Rhyton (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.
