with leaders, ridden well over 1f out, kept on
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, squeezed through entering final furlong, soon led, kept on well
reared start, keen, soon tracking leaders, weakened entering final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, one pace
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
JUST BOND is preferred to see off the other last-time-out winners Charlie Tipple and Wovoka. Geoff Oldroyd's gelding has a 2lb rise in the weights to overcome following a win recently at Musselburgh. He cruised up to the leader there before not doing too much in front and it may be that he has been underestimated by the handicapper. Wovoka is now 5lbs higher in the handicap following a good Newcastle win last time; he acts well on quick ground but he has struggled off this sort of mark of late. Stoic Leader disappointed last time and could be interesting if given another chance as he looks well-treated, Spin Again should be fit now after two recent starts and if he gets this longer trip then he would be interesting, whilst Bere Davis only has one win to his name but he ran well in defeat last time and the stable are in good form. Charlie Tipple is a course and distance winner and the yard are in good nick; however the feeling is that he looks high enough on a mark of 84 for this return, especially as he may prefer slower ground. Another Decree should not be overlooked from just a pound out of the weights but it is Just Bond who has a license to thrill.
Charlie Tipple 22-1 (8-9) With leaders, led over 2f out, hard ridden and under pressure inside final furlong, just held on, won at Redcar 1m hcap (2) gd in Oct beating The Osteopath (8-13) by ns, 23 ran.
Wovoka (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Held up behind, not much room over 2f out, plenty to do when headway over 1f out, ridden and quickened to lead well inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf beating Casino Night (8-3) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Spin Again (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) In touch, ridden and one pace final 2f, 7th of 14, 5l behind Malcheek (9-2) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Bere Davis (FR) 6-1 (9-4) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Sendreni (9-3) at Folkestone 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Mar.
Stoic Leader (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4l behind Rossini's Dancer (10-9) at Wolverhampton 1m (6) pol.
Another Decree 10-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 6l behind Leading Edge (9-3) at Doncaster 6f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Just Bond (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Held up behind, smooth headway 2f out, shaken up to lead when carried head high inside final furlong, just held on, won at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Celtic Change (8-8) by shd, 9 ran.