close up, effort 2f out, kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong, not reach winner
keen, in rear, headway when switched left halfway, tracked leaders, short of room 2f out, no impression final furlong
made all, ridden and stayed on final furlong
tracked winner, ridden and chance 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
tracked winner, ridden and edged left 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
raced wide in touch, lost place halfway, eased over 1f out
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden halfway, never a factor
As a former winner of Epsom's Amateurs' Derby, Phil Collington is easily the most experienced pilot here and he can steer THE HAPPY HAMMER to an eighth career success. A winner at Lingfield in February, he's 11lb lower back on turf and looks set for victory number nine. Substantivo has gone close to losing his maiden tag in two of his last three starts from this kind of mark but Harwoods Star's best runs have been with plenty of give in the ground. West Leake has nine victories to his credit but all bar one have been on the all-weather and he's not as effective on turf. Perfect Mission won here in August and is 7lb lower so has to enter the reckoning.
Hail Promenader (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Pulled hard, tracked leaders on outside, edged left and weakened 4f out, 10th of 11, 38l behind Jebril (10-7) at Newbury 1m 2f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gs in May.
Top Offer 7-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along on inside over 2f out, soon not quicken and beaten, 8th of 9, 10l behind Gravitational (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Perfect Mission 6-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Bountybeamadam (9-2) at Chepstow 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Harwoods Star (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Raced keenly, slight lead, edged left and headed over 1f out, no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Sweet Martoni (8-9) at Chepstow 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft in May.
Substantivo (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, outpaced when not much room over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong, went 3rd near finish, just held, 3rd of 13, 1/2l behind Shifting Star (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in May.
Takitwo 12-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Mahadee (10-0) at Salisbury 1m ladies hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
The Happy Hammer (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, every chance when short of room and hampered entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 5l behind Carrera (9-5) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) gf.
Interakt 16-1 (7-10) Led, headed over 4f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Elle Rebelle (7-11) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
The Name Is Frank 33-1 (8-3) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 19l behind Chevise (7-11) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
West Leake (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Awkward leaving stalls, held up in last pair, ran on inside final furlong pressing for 3rd close home but never any chance with winner, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Clearing (9-0) at Lingfield 6f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in May.
