pulled hard, held up, took closer order over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, driven to press leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
keen in mid-division, headway and not clear run approaching 2f out, switched left over 1f out, driven and stayed on to take 3rd close home
soon led at steady pace, joined over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong, lost 3rd close home
tracked leaders, joined leader over 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, pressed from over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
tracked leader until over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened and hung over 1f out
always in rear, outpaced over 1f out
Sir Mark Prescott has his string in pretty good form but his runner, Brett Vale, is hard to back with any confidence having been beaten some way out in his last two starts and even in this grade he looks best watched in a race taken to go to MALT OR MASH, who gets the verdict ahead of Tanto Faz. The son of Rock Of Gibraltar has struggled in recent starts in handicaps and it is no surprise to see William Haggas dropping him into a claimer for the first time. David Elsworth's Everaard disappointed in a handicap here last month on his most recent start but that was on a softer surface and he should do better back on faster ground today but has a bit to find at the weights. Urban Space ran better in a claimer last time and has to be respected but he faces no easy task against Malt Or Mash, who gets the vote. Richard Hannon's five-year-old has struggled against the handicapper of late and has appreciated the drop into claiming races in his last two starts, winning at Newbury prior to finishing a creditable sixth at York earlier this month, and he can win again.
Brett Vale (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Dwelt, in rear, ridden over 3f out, effort 2f out, soon hung left and weakened, 6th of 9, 11l behind Bab Al Salam (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) pol.
Tanto Faz (IRE) 4-1 (9-8) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 9l behind Mountain Cat (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Malt Or Mash (USA) 8-1 (9-4) Chased winner, came stands side to lead that group over 3f out, until over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 7l behind Middlemarch (8-7) at York 1m 2f clm stks (4) gs.
Everaard (USA) 7-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 46l behind Lord Theo (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Aug.
Urban Space 8-1 (8-6) Tracked leading pair, switched left to outer over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Foxhaven (9-11) at Windsor 1m 4f clm stks (6) gf in Aug.
Zelos Diktator 100-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, weakened over 2f out, 14th of 16, well behind Do The Strand (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) sft in Aug.
