chased leaders near rail, going for gap when squeezed out 5f out, stayed in touch until pushed along halfway, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, eased over 1f out
led at decent pace, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
ran green, outpaced and always well in rear
steadied start, held up towards rear, hampered on rail 5f out, modest headway to 4th final furlong
dwelt, soon intouch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
chased leader, ridden and chance over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner, went 2nd post
took keen hold towards rear, hampered 5f out, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, led and edged right over 1f out, soon quickened away
chased leaders on rail, not much room 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
If all goes to plan Lady Berta will be bidding to give Richard Hannon a treble but we'll jump off the bang wagon here and side with NIGHT SKY ahead of Starclass. The selection finished third to - you guessed it - a Richard Hannon horse on her seasonal reappearance which came over course and distance. That was a bit step forward on her sole juvenile start with quicker ground seemingly part of the reason and whilst the second horse was a beaten favourite at Windsor on Monday night the form looks strong, as Sir Michael Stoute's horse took a clear second to one with previously solid form. With that in mind Night Sky sets the standard and any improvement will see her very tough to beat. Starclass merits respect despite the trainer's modest record here. She caught the eye here last term and can be forgiven a poor return as she was easy to back and thought in need of the run. That said, this daughter of Starcraft is bred to want more than a mile and can be taken on with that in mind. Lady Berta was beaten plenty far enough on her debut here but a mile was never likely to suit this daughter of Bertolini and she can improve. Poppy Golightly and Laser Ruby are very closely matched on their meeting here last time but the former was flattered to finish ahead of Andrew Balding's charge and, with the latter open to more improvement, that form line is likely to be reversed. Into The Wind needs a look in the market but will surely make a middle-distance handicapper in time and with that we'll return to Night Sky, who will be hard to beat.
Alnaseem (USA) 28-1 (9-0) Dwelt and went left start, soon in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 14, 17l behind Funky Lady (9-0) at Newbury 7f 3yo fll mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Ellen Vannin (IRE) 40-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 15, 7l behind Bonnie Brae (9-2) at Yarmouth 6f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Into The Wind Piccolo filly out of In The Stocks.
Lady Berta 8-1 (9-0) Dwelt, mid-division, driven and outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, never on terms, 8th of 13, 9l behind Frances Stuart (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 3yo fll mdn (5) gf.
Laser Ruby 14-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, kept on final furlong, weakened towards finish, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Poltergeist (9-3) at Salisbury 7f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Night Sky 40-1 (8-12) Towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Chica Whopa (8-12) at Salisbury 7f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Poppy Golightly 66-1 (8-12) Led, headed over 2f out, regained lead narrowly approaching final furlong, soon headed, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Poltergeist (9-3) at Salisbury 7f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Starclass 14-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, pushed along and headway well over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 10l behind Flambeau (8-12) at Newbury 7f 3yo mdn (4) gf in May.
Up At Last 25-1 (9-0) Bumped start, held up in mid-division, some headway when hampered 2f out, weakened soon after, 11th of 14, 13l behind Hymnsheet (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 2yo stks (5) gf in Oct.
