held up towards rear, some headway on outside over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden and pushed wide 2f out, soon lost place
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, held towards finish
mid-division, took keen hold, headway on inside over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, carried left and hampered over 1f out, kept on towards finish
prominent, ridden and slightly hampered 2f out, soon hung left, weakened inside final furlong
always in rear, ridden over 2f out, well beaten over 1f out
tracked leader until ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
awkward leaving stalls, in rear, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, not much room over 1f out, soon switched right, ran on inside final furlong
towards rear, driven 2f out, not much room and headway 1f out, never near leaders
slowly into stride, held up in rear, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, well beaten over 1f out
If the ground stays fast then Champain Sands would have a squeak of giving Eric Alston his third winner of this race inside a decade, but with rain around we will side with FLYING SILKS to get the better of Celtic Step and Desert Hunter. The Jeremy Gask-trained pick is 6lbs higher than when scoring over course and distance in August of last year. He handles both a sound surface and good to soft, so rain would not inconvenience, and from a 4lbs higher mark than when scoring last time, plus a first-time visor to sharpen him up, he might prove up to the task. Celtic Step is upped 3lbs for a Southwell success over this trip and enjoys slower conditions so connections will be hoping that there is more rainfall, and he has to be considered a leading player. Desert Hunter, on the other hand, would prefer fast ground. Micky Hammond's seven-year-old won when those conditions were in evidence last time and a 6lb rise should not stop him being competitive in his repeat bid. His victim that day, Betteras Bertie is another who likes his hooves rattling and if it stays dry he should close the gap to some extent, though Flying Silks is preferred.
Ours (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, headway under pressure over 1f, kept on into 3rd well inside final furlong, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Trans Sonic (7-13) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Feb.
Chief Red Cloud (USA) 10-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, raced stands side from over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 15, 6l behind Ailsa Craig (9-3) at Carlisle 1m hcap (4) gf in Jun.
Boy Blue 7-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 9l behind Amethyst Dawn (8-8) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Cheam Forever (USA) 4-1 (9-10) Led main group, headed 5f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 7l behind You've Been Mowed (8-11) at Chepstow 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
French Art 8-1 (10-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden inside final 2f, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong, 8th of 12, 5l behind Eastern Gift (9-6) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Flying Silks (IRE) 11-4fav (9-1) Keen, tracked leaders, joined leaders going well 3f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied near finish, 2nd of 13, ns behind Tanforan (8-8) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Jun.
Glenmuir (IRE) 14-1 (8-2) Mid-division on inside, driven to chase leaderd 2f out, staying on when not clear run 1f out and inside final furlong, kept on, not reached leaders, 6th of 9, 2l behind Toto Skyllachy (8-12) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Whipma Whopma Gate (IRE) 22-1 (8-9) In touch on outside, raced stands side from over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 14th of 15, 18l behind Ailsa Craig (9-3) at Carlisle 1m hcap (4) gf in Jun.
Betteras Bertie 9-1 (9-9) In rear, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Desert Hunter (8-6) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Celtic Step 9-4fav (9-2) Chased leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung left under pressure when challenged inside final furlong, just held on, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jun beating Admirals Way (8-4) by hd, 10 ran.
Classic Descent 7-2fav (9-5) Mid-division on inside, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, not reached leaders, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Eastern Gift (9-6) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Desert Hunter (IRE) 11-4fav (8-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun beating Betteras Bertie (9-9) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Just Timmy Marcus 8-1 (8-9) In touch, tracked leaders 3f out, not clear run 2f out, effort 1f out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Tanforan (8-8) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Jun.
Champain Sands (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, well in rear, steady headway on outer from 2f out, ran on towards finish, 3rd of 15, 3/4l behind Rascal In The Mix (8-12) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-55 (6) gf in Jun.
Nurai 9-4fav (8-0) Dwelt, held up, ridden 3f out, headway on inside to lead 2f out, clear entering final furlong, eased near finish, won at Pontefract 1m fll hcp (5) gf in Jun beating Wiseman's Diamond (9-9) by 2l, 7 ran.
Brigadoon 7-2fav (8-7) Raced in rear, effort when hampered over 1f out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 14l behind Buffett (8-9) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
