mistake and fell 1st
soon led and clear, weakening when headed 5th, pulled up before next
in touch, jumped right 2nd, weakening when jumped right again 6th and pulled up
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 3 out, blundered and weakened 2 out
held up, headway 4th, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, headway after 5th, ridden to lead 3 out, ran on well
towards rear, mistake 4th, lost place, headway 6th, pulled up after 3 out and dismounted
in touch, ridden 6th, stayed on to take 2nd near finish
tracked leaders and keen, hampered 2nd, lost touch from 5th
in touch, led 5th, ridden when headed 3 out and weakened
held up, tailed off from 4th, pulled up after 5th
In the opener, Mr Maxim is nominated ahead of Marigolds Way and, possibly, Atlantic Highway. Marigolds Way has earned a rating of 95 based on some reasonable efforts of late, not least a 92-rated second to Mistified at Fontwell in June. That type of form should make him competitive at this level. Mr Maxim is rated in the low 100s, though, as a consequence of his best runs and is quite clearly one to give some thought to too. Thistle has earned a rating in the low 90s and, once again, gets a shout on that basis. The David Pipe runner, Atlantic Highway should be noted in the betting, while Dovedale showed some ability on the Flat and cannot be ruled out of a modest race. Those same comments apply to Over Ice. Finally, another David Pipe runner, Prince de Bersy, ran pretty well here for a long way on soft going last time, and the betting might give an indication as to the value of his chances, and Asbury Park has at least shown some ability, albeit at selling level. All of which returns us to the selection, Mr Maxim.
Atlantic Highway 20-1 (11-7) Ref 3 refused in race won by Manmoon (10-7) at Great Trethew 2m 4f ptp gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Cathy's Idol (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) In rear and keen, not fluent 1st and soon detached, tailed off when pulled up at the 5th in race won by Lyon (11-3) at Hereford 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gf in Jun '06, 13 ran.
Kirbys Glen (IRE) (12-0) 8th of 17, well behind Big Fella Thanks (12-0) at Carrigtwohill 3m ire ptp gs in Feb.
Mr Maxim 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd over 1f out, no chance winner, 2nd of 10, 18l behind Rightful Ruler (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Thistle 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 21l behind Notre Cyborg (11-2) at Stratford 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
Asbury Park 5-1jt-fav (10-10) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, every chance when hit last, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 18, 9l behind Countback (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Jul.
Prince De Bersy (FR) 13-2 (10-13) Prominent, ridden approaching 6th, weakened 3 out, regained a remote 3rd last, 3rd of 10, 22l behind Ardente Sauvage (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) sft in Aug.
Airs N Graces (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Poor last for most, slight mistake 6 out, ridden to go remote 3rd and kept on same pace straight, 3rd of 6, well behind Field Commander (11-6) at Limerick 2m nov hdl gs in Jul.
Dovedale 12-1 (10-10) With winner, led briefly 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 19l behind Spinning Coin (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Fishguard Filly 100-1 (10-2) Always behind, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind This Way That Way (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Marigolds Way 16-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, stayed on from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 14, 20l behind Lord Lington (11-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
Mollycoddle 50-1 (10-8) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Ardente Sauvage (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) sft in Aug, 10 ran.
Over Ice 50-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, beaten when blundered and unseated rider at the last in race won by Im Busy (10-5) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Aug, 15 ran.
