held up last, gap opened and switched right to near side rail 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, soon ridden, every chance over 1f out until winner quickened on inside final furlong, one pace in 3rd
led and set decent pace, hung left 2f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out, virtually pulled up final furlong
chased leader, pushed along over 3f out, ridden to lead inside final 2f, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong
Mt Augustus didn’t look to stay 1m6f at Sandown last time but today’s distance should not be a problem for Wetherby runner-up Poetic Steps and Mark Johnston has sent out two of the last four winners. Pippin shrugged off a rise in the weights to win over 1m4f at Newbury recently but has a further 7lb hike to contend with here as he bids for a hat-trick. MIDNIGHT BLUE has already landed a treble on the all-weather with last week’s six-length romp at Lingfield. Improving for each step up in distance in the style typical of a Sir Mark Prescott representative, he may not have finished winning yet and can defy a penalty.
Mt Augustus 6-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway on outside well over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Ghostwatch (9-7) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Pippin 5-2fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (5) gf in Jun beating Construct (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Poetic Steps (FR) 7-4fav (9-7) In touch on outer, settled in last pair after 2f, headway on outside over 3f out, edged left inside final 2f, soon challenged, ridden 1f out, outpaced final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Low Profile (9-5) at Wetherby 1m 6f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Midnight Blue 5-6fav (9-0) Led briefly, tracked leader over 1f, handy 3rd, led over 1f out, soon clear, very easily, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp fll (5) pol in Jun beating Time To Perfection (8-13) by 6l, 6 ran.
