tracked leaders, challenged on outside going well 3f out, soon ridden and weakened 2f out
towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, soon one pace
led to 7f out, chased leader to inside final 2f, weakened quickly
held up in rear, headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
chased leaders 7f
in touch, led inside final 2f, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, in command well inside final furlong
always rear
held up in rear, smooth headway travelling well over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, carried right inside final furlong, ridden and found no extra well inside final furlong
mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out
always rear
held up towards rear, effort under pressure to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong
behind, headway on outside over 1f out, pushed along and kept on inside final furlong to press for 3rd last strides but no chance with front pair
soon tracked leader, led 7f out, kept narrow advantage until headed inside final 2f, lost 2nd over 1f out and no extra final furlong
dropped in from wide draw, held up in rear, ridden and struggling entering staight, virtually pulled up final 3f, tailed off
Nonrunner
An open look to this handicap and the tentative nod goes in the direction of BALNAGORE, while Watchmaker and Lunar River are among the dangers. The John Dunlop-trained selection will attempt to give weight away all around here after winning over a similar trip on Kempton's Polytrack last time. Untried on fast ground on turf, we hope that he will act in these conditions, and he certainly appeared to have enough in hand last time to suggest that he could defy a 6lb penalty. Watchmaker has some very solid form to bring to the table. Tor Sturgis's six-year-old is 4lbs below the mark from which he was comfortably beaten by the selection last time, so with a decent pull here he shouldn't be too far away. Lunar River did nothing wrong when taking a Lingfield handicap earlier in the month, but a 6lb penalty plus her CV suggests that that was the day to catch her. Richard Whitaker sends down Joinedupwriting, who also carries a penalty now back in a handicap, after winning a Ripon seller over this trip. This is tougher. Apotheosis should be very competitive from today's mark of just 63, but Balnagore is the one for us.
Balnagore 4-1fav (8-13) Made all, led, quickened well over 1f out, ridden out, unchallenged, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr beating Lytham (8-2) by 2l, 10 ran.
Hucking Hero (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Held up in rear, good headway on outside 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Special Reserve (9-1) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Watchmaker 5-1 (9-7) Held up 4th, wide straight and lost pace 2f out, kept on again final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 10, 6l behind Balnagore (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr.
Seventh Cavalry (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Raced keenly, soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon bumped, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Duty Doctor (8-12) at Wolverhampton 7f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct.
Sinbad The Sailor 7-1 (8-5) Soon led, headed after 3f and remained in touch until weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 11l behind Empowered (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) gd.
Beau Fighter 33-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon one pace, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Mont Cervin (8-13) at Folkestone 1m 2f mdn auc stks (6) gf in Jun.
Seventh Hill 13-2 (8-6) Held up, ridden over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Moonshine Creek (8-5) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Apotheosis 4-1fav (8-13) Held up in touch, switched right over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge, 4th of 14, 4l behind All In The Red (9-1) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr.
Lunar River (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, steady headway on outside from 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, driven and stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won going away, won at Lingfield 1m 2f flls hcp (0-70) (3yo+) (5) pol beating Demeanour (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Burnbrake 12-1 (9-0) Pressed leader early, stayed prominent, ridden and no impression over 1f out, stayed on one pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind My Shadow (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb.
Jago (SWI) 9-1 (9-0) In touch, led well over 1f out, soon edged left, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 5l behind Agilete (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
Turjuman (USA) 25-1 (8-6) With leader until ridden 3f out and weakened rapidly, 11th of 12, 38l behind Bois Joli (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Megalala (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) Made all, led, ridden and edged left from well over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, held on gamely 75 yards, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol beating Chalice Welcome (8-10) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Lunar Limelight 25-1 (8-9) Steadied start, held up in last trio, good headway to track leaders over 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, hard ridden and no impression when lost 2nd inside final furlong, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Mix N Match (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (6) pol in Jan.
Joinedupwriting 5-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, driven to lead over 1f out, held on gamely final furlong, won at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo sll (6) gf beating Dark Oasis (8-9) by nk, 12 ran.
Imperium 5-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, soon recovered to be prominent, not clear run on inside over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Annes Rocket (8-2) at Warwick 1m app hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
