held up, headway over 3f out, hard ridden over 1f out, stayed on well to lead last strides
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed and no extra near finish
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, one pace
slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous
soon prominent, led well over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace
behind, never a factor
held on mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, never on terms
in touch, ridden and effort over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, hard ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
led 1f, remained prominent until weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
held up in touch, ridden and effort over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, soon weakened
led after 1f, ridden and headed well over 3f out, soon weakened
It's a wide-open affair with Didn't Tell My Wife, Basinet, Merdiff, Dubai Dreams and Explode among a number to consider, but we'll opt for Duelling Banjos. This is a run-of-the-mill handicap and only three pounds separates the top from the bottom in the weights on official ratings. The selection won from a three-pound higher mark last season and acts on going with give in it, so has a chance based on that evidence. Turning to the others; Didn't Tell My wife, who won from a four-pound lower mark in July and will act on the going; Basinet has won from his current mark; Dubai Dreams has run well from higher marks; Lady Natilda could well improve for the step up in trip; Explode has gone well here in the past; and Lobos won well at Bath last time but has been raised ten pounds in the weights as a consequence. Add to this War Owl, who has a 499-day absence to overcome but could go well if fit; Fabrian, who won well at Newmarket in August but has been disappointing since; Shatin Hero, who comes here in good heart following a Newcastle run, and Mark Johnston's Phantom Flame, who has shown nothing this year but a return to his juvenile form would make him interesting and you get the idea that it's too tough a race about which to be dogmatic. With that in mind, we'll opt, once again, for Duelling Banjos.