raced far side, held up, never dangerous
raced far side, chased leaders, hung left under pressure from over 1f out, kept on
raced far side, chased leaders over 4f
raced far side, held up, headway over 2f out, never on terms
raced far side, always behind
led stand side pair, in touch, hard-ridden over 2f out, no impression
raced far side, behind, edged left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced far side, in touch, soon ridden, headway over 2f out, soon edged left, stayed on
raced far side, in touch, pushed along halfway, soon beaten
raced far side, in touch, effort over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong
led far side group and overall leader, headed 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
raced far side, held up, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace
raced far side, held up in touch, edged left over 2f out, kept on well final furlong
chased leader stand side, weakened over 2f out
raced far side, chased leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly away, raced far side, behind, never nearer
raced far side, slowly into stride, held up mid-division, weakened over 2f out
raced far side, in touch, effort over 2f out, soon weakened
raced far side, held up, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on, never nearer
raced far side, chased leaders over 4f
Spirit of France gets a narrow vote over the likes of Pango, Munaddam, Rising Shadow and Steel Blue, with Rock Music adding to a tricky contest for punters. This large field could easily throw up a shock winner, but hopefully one of those mentioned will provide the answer, and it is to Spirit of France that we look on the back of some decent recent efforts. Mark Johnston's charge was ridden to perfection by Greg Fairley at Musselburgh before finishing a close up third at Ayr next time. In truth, a mile is just too far for him though, and back over this distance, with Kevin Darley on board, he can make the most of his draw near the rail off what is not a bad mark still. Pango has been profitable to follow in the main, and indeed was successful over the course and distance last time. With Travis Block taking five-pounds off his back, Hugh Morrison's six-year-old is sure to give a good account. Munaddam is out to make up for lost time, having been absent since landing the odds at Bath over a year ago, so might be best watched, although his big-race entries last year reveal that he was highly thought of and probably still is. Rising Shadow's stable have hit form of late, while Steel Blue proved that he stays seven furlongs when successful in conditions company last time. Rock Music may turn out to be lightly weighted for his handicap debut and is another that is well regarded at home, but in a tricky one to sort out, Spirit of France is the pick.
Pango 7-1 (8-5) Raced centre, slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left and led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept beating Compton's Eleven (8-13) by a nk, 16 ran.
Compton's Eleven 20-1 (8-13) Raced centre, prominent, ridden and led briefly 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 16, nk behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Uhoomagoo 12-1 (9-4) Raced centre, slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous, 11th of 16, 8l behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Munaddam (USA) 4-9fav (9-0) Prominent, led over 1f out, pushed clear, easily, won at Bath 6f 2yo mdn (D3) gd in Sept '04 beating Rubies (8-9) by 5l, 16 ran.
Marching Song 11-2 (8-10) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Serre Chevalier (9-2) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) gf in Sept.
Moayed 11-2jt-fav (8-10) Raced centre, slowly into stride, always in rear, last of 16, 19l behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Spirit of France (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) In touch, pushed along over 3f out, kept on well inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Cashier (8-10) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Visionist (IRE) 50-1 (8-10) Raced stands side, held up, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 18, 2l behind All Ivory (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Psychiatrist 40-1 (8-10) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 18, 2 1/2l behind All Ivory (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gd in Sept.
King's Caprice 11-2jt-fav (8-9) Raced centre, close up, ridden 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 16, 7l behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 11-1 (8-6) Held up stand side, driven halfway, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, 3rd of 18, 3/4l behind Borderlescott (8-9) at York 6f hcp 0-100 (2) sft.
Lord of The East 20-1 (8-5) Raced centre, overall leader, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra, 4th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Marshman (IRE) 7-1 (8-5) Raced stand side, soon outpaced, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 16, 6l behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Primo Way 7-1 (8-9) Mid-division, soon outpaced and pushed along, no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 13, 13l behind Ruby Rocket (8-4) at Hamilton 6f stk (2) gd in Sept.
Zomerlust 66-1 (9-6) Chased leaders far side group, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 28, 3l behind Machinist (9-0) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Capricho (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Raced centre, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 15th of 16, 13l behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Steel Blue 8-1 (9-0) Pressed leader, led 5f out, hung left inside final furlong, ran on, won at Epsom 7f stk 0-80 (4) gs beating Desert Dreamer (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Rock Music 4-9fav (9-1) Prominent, chased winner over 5f out until well over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 14l behind Party Boss (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo stk (B1) pol in Feb.
Kenmore 16-1 (8-7) Raced far side, tracked leaders, ridden and effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 14th of 18, 9l behind All Ivory (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Royal Orissa 33-1 (8-9) Slow into stride, always behind, 12th of 15, 11l behind Gimasha (8-4) at Windsor 6f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Tagula Sunrise (IRE) 14-1 (8-6) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon edged left, one pace inside final furlong, 7th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Bygone Days (9-2) at Haydock 6f hcp (2) gs in Sept.
Commando Scott (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) In rear, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Rafferty (9-4) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Chief Scout 14-1 (9-3) Behind, no impression when driven and hung left final furlong, 11th of 13, 8l behind Resplendent Nova (8-10) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Aug.