led, pushed along over 3f out, headed over 2f out, stayed on under pressure
held up in touch, every chance over 2f out, hard ridden to lead inside final furlong, all out
raced in rear, headway halfway, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
chased leaders, effort over 3f out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, lost place over 3f out
raced in rear, under pressure halfway, soon beaten
prominent, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra
A couple of unexposed rivals catch the eye in this field with the vote going to ANACOPA over Akhmatova. Godolphin's three-year-old found just what turned out to be a really well handicapped runner too good on her bow in these ranks, and with a further subsequent winner in behind she should manage her mark rise to run a big race. Akhmatova won her handicap debut before just missing out from a revised mark last time and she should show the necessary improvement to go well from another increased rating. Ailsa Craig is on from but has to concede weight to the younger horses in the line-up including Anacopa who has the form- lines to win this.
Ailsa Craig (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 2f out until ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Shadowtime (9-6) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Starla Dancer (GER) 16-1 (8-13) Held up mid-division and keen, outpaced over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 13l behind Destinys Dream (9-12) at York 1m 2f flls hcp 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Anacopa (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked winner, ridden to join winner over 1f out, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Yorgunnabelucky (9-12) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Akhmatova 5-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Destinys Dream (9-12) at York 1m 2f flls hcp 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Ice Diva 9-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, soon under pressure and faded, 7th of 8, 12l behind Zuider Zee (9-6) at Doncaster 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jul.
Layla's Lexi 6-1 (9-5) Held up behind, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, never reached leaders, 6th of 10, 6l behind Lord Raglan (9-3) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Cherry Bee 5-2fav (9-2) Led, headed 3f out, soon driven and outpaced, no impression approaching final furlong, 7th of 12, 7l behind Northside Prince (10-0) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Marrimeclaire (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Held up, headway over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind Tamtara (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jun.