tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on
made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on well
always behind
dwelt, in touch, went 3rd inside final furlong, one pace
tracked winner until over 1f out, no extra and lost 3rd place inside final furlong
Elijah Pepper has every chance on the book on the back of a recent third at Ayr but he disappoints too often to be a confident selection. Seldom also has a less than impressive strike rate though he was beaten only a head over C&D last month with Talent Scout behind. Byron Bear has tumbled down the handicap and showed signs of a resurgence at Beverley last time but Kian's Joy has been well beaten since scoring at Newcastle in April. REX ROMANORUM posted his best effort to date when a close-up third at Catterick in May and though he needs to find a bit more improvement to land this, Patrick Holmes' charge is having only his fifth start and may well do so.
Elijah Pepper (USA) 9-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, driven along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Oratory (9-7) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Rex Romanorum (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Led until over 4f out, chased leaders, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Dutch Rose (8-11) at Catterick 7f mdn stks 0-65 (6) gf in May.
Strong Man 12-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 35l behind Eeny Mac (8-12) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Jun.
Kian's Joy 14-1 (7-13) Prominent, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out, 13th of 15, 16l behind Brockwell (9-3) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Only A Round (IRE) 50-1 (7-11) Slight lead until halfway, chased leaders until ridden and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 16l behind Byronic Hero (9-5) at Pontefract 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Jun.
Seldom (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, struggling over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 9l behind Le Chat D'or (9-4) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Jun.
Talent Scout (IRE) 18-1 (8-12) Pulled hard in rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 2l behind Woolston Ferry (8-11) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Last Destination (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 9l behind Viscount Vert (9-11) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Byron Bear (IRE) 16-1 (8-2) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on well to go 3rd inside final furlong, not reach leading pair, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Eeny Mac (8-0) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
