chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, smooth headway and led 2f out, edged clear 1f out, all out
slowly away, prominent, led at halfway, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, headway 2f out, no extra 1f out
held up towards rear, pushed along 4f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden 4f out, steady headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, always held
led, headed at halfway, pushed along 3f out, no impression on leaders but kept on final furlong
Newbury winner Encourage wasn’t beaten far off his new mark at Nottingham but he’s not really bred for this longer trip. Stay Well is also upped in distance as is Balearic, who was probably flattered by his defeat of two rivals at Chepstow. Zikany has gone up a further 2lb since failing to defy a penalty when favourite at Newbury and ZURAIG is preferred. He has been beaten twice off similar marks in handicaps so far but lost a shoe last time at Windsor and still has some scope.
Stay Well 4-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Just Fine (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Zuraig 7-2 (9-8) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Sword Beach (10-0) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Encourage 13-8fav (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, progress to press leader entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 4, 1/2l behind Miramichi (9-2) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Balearic (IRE) 9-4 (9-2) Keen behind leader, led 3f out, ridden over 2f out, drew clear final furlong, won at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Silvestris (9-3) by 6 1/2l, 3 ran.
Zikany Evensfav (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, edged left and soon every chance, hung left and stayed on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Reina Del Mar (9-5) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Alpine Stroll 14-1 (8-7) Disputed lead, headed and tracked leader over 5f out, soon pushed along, keeping on gamely over 2f out, weakened quickly after 2f out, 10th of 11, 22 3/4l behind Tashkhan (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.