behind, going well and nowhere to go 2f out, hampered inside final furlong, not recover and eased
always in rear
tracked leaders, led narrowly just over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, kept on one pace
held up mid-division, not much room when hampered and checked 2f out, soon weakened
led until headed narrowly just over 1f out, no extra
in touch, ridden and weakened from 2f out
prominent until weakened quickly over 2f out
pulled hard towards rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, nearest finish
behind, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out
prominent, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out
behind, headway 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on strongly to chase winner well inside final furlong
held up, effort over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden and edged left 2f out, no progress
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon chased winner, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, good headway from 2f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong gaining towards finish
in touch until weakened 2f out
towards rear, not clear run 2f out, switched right, ran on well final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never nearer
This has not been a good race for punters in recent years and this year's renewal looks to be typically competitive with a tentative vote going to Charlie Cool, who gets the verdict ahead of Dansili Dancer and Crime Scene. The last mentioned was good value for his win on Southwell's turf course last time and has claims on that evidence but Mark Johnston's runner would not want any further rain. Pearly King looks to be going the right way and is set to go up 3lbs in future handicaps. He holds Formal Decree on running at Beverley last time and should again get the better of Alan Swinbank's gelding. Blue Bajan has a nice racing weight but probably needs to improve, while Ofaraby is proving to be hard to win with. Classic Punch may do better over further and of more interest may be the in-form Dansili Dancer, although he is another that may want no further rain. Charlie Cool is unproven over the trip but is bred to stay it and he gets the vote in the hope that he does and that Kerrin McEvoy can steer him successfully from an awkward looking draw in stall 20.
Palomar (USA) 12-1 (9-13) Behind, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 4th of 17, 6l behind Topatoo (8-9) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Gavroche (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden and edged left 1f out, stayed on, never troubled leader, last of 6, 2l behind Foxhaven (9-1) at Chester 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf.
Dansili Dancer 8-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon edged left, ran on, won at Haydock 1m 3f fll hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug beating Fairmile (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ofaraby 7-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, edged left and weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong, 13th of 17, 32l behind Topatoo (8-9) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Classic Punch (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Tracked leading pair, hard ridden and not quicken over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Ashaawes (8-11) at Epsom 1m 2f stk (3) gs in Aug.
Great Plains 12-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Dansili Dancer (9-2) at Haydock 1m 3f fll hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.
Courageous Duke (USA) 5-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 8l behind Road To Love (8-9) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jul.
Chantaco (USA) 7-1 (9-12) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 5l behind Young Mick (9-13) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Bravo Maestro (USA) 8-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up last but in touch, plugged on at one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 6, 4l behind Kandidate (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) pol.
Pinpoint (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Chased stand's side leaders, hard ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 18 in group, 6th of 30, 6l behind Cesare (8-8) at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Chancellor (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 24l behind Tam Lin (8-6) at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Charlie Cool 5-2fav (9-7) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, hung left just inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Aug beating Count Trevisio (9-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Pearly King (USA) 9-2 (9-7) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Champions Gallery (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Desert Realm (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 10l behind Dark Islander (9-4) at Bath 1m 3yo hcp (2) frm.
Humungous (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Led, ridden when headed 2f out, faded, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Dark Islander (9-4) at Bath 1m 3yo hcp (2) frm.
Boo 14-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, last of 11, 16l behind Rohaani (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-110 (2) gd.
Formal Decree (GER) 10-3 (9-6) Held up behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Champions Gallery (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Crime Scene (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Close up, pushed along 2f out, soon every chance, led well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf beating Trick Or Treat (9-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Towards rear, good headway on inner over 2f out, effort over 1f out, no extra and one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 17, 2l behind Salute Him (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
Fortunate Isle (USA) 13-2 (9-4) Dwelt, soon in touch, challenged over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 16l behind Rio Riva (9-8) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Aug.
