chased leader, ridden and ever chance approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong
raced alone stands side, prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, never able to challenge
in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on
soon chased leader, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden halfway, never a factor
chased leader, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, ran on
held up, ridden over 2f out, not troubled leaders
always in rear
Aghadoe looks the pick on recent runs, and we'd give a chance too to Soviet Secret, but our preference is for BATTLEMAIDEN. Mark Johnston's filly beat her own sex to lose her maiden tag, and indeed her best runs have all come against other fillies, but she's getting to grips with the game and looks worth persisting with. She's likely to be up with or setting the pace, and first time blinkers should assist. Andrew Balding's colt Aghadoe is having his first run here having previously raced in Ireland for David Wachman. He's changed hands three times so far for a total of more than a quarter of a million pounds, and looks to be heading the right way, but he's shot up 11 pounds since his Curragh success in May and may get found out here. Soviet Secret's been expensive to follow, with five runners up spots to go with his solitary win. He'll appreciate the good ground, and returns to the course and distance of his victory two weeks ago. It looks very competitive as one would expect at HQ on a Saturday, but we're supporting Battlemaiden.
Tesslam 15-8fav (8-13) Led 1f, led again halfway, headed over 1f out, weakened closing stages, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Arabian Mirage (9-6) at Leicester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Aghadoe (IRE) 7-4fav (8-8) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, close up in 2nd 3f out, led 2f out, ridden and kept on well from over 1f out, pressed closing stages, won at Curragh 1m 3yo hcp 60-90 gf in May beating Start The Party (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Kona Coast 9-2 (9-4) Prominent, racing along on far rail 5f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4l behind San Cassiano (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Alice Alleyne (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Keen tracked leader, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Folly Bridge (9-2) at Newmarket 7f 3yo fll hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Sweet Clementine (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Held up, headway when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ran on towards finish, 4th of 13, 1 1/4l behind Folly Bridge (9-2) at Newmarket 7f 3yo fll hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Tres Coronas (IRE) 13-2 (8-4) Led and soon 5 lengths clear, headed over 2f out, gradually weakened, 6th of 7, 9l behind Breakheart (8-2) at Ayr 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Battlemaiden (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, soon lost place, no extra, 7th of 9, 6l behind Poppet's Lovein (9-10) at Warwick 7f flls hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Soviet Secret 9-4 (9-8) Dwelt, tracked leader after 1f, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 6, hd behind Wake Up Call (9-12) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Hot Spark 6-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 4l behind Lowdown (9-7) at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Walcot Square (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Held up, headway over 1f out, not clearest of runs and switched right well inside final furlong, kept on to 3rd last stride, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Hypnotized (9-0) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr.
Tell Halaf 11-8fav (9-6) Steadied start, held up, switched left over 2f out, effort and hung left over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 5l behind Kuanyao (9-11) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Kings Bayonet 4-1 (8-13) Took keen hold early, intouch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 7, 7l behind Sea Lord (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) pol in May.
