dwelt, held up in rear, still plenty to do when headway on outer over 1f out, ran on, not reached leaders
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on, never nearer
in rear, switched to outside over 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, not pace to challenge
took keen hold, close up, ridden over 2f out, headway and switched left over 1f out, ran on to lead post
tracked leaders, ridden and effort, over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, never on terms
raced wide, mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, switched left to challenge 2f out, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong, ran on
led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on
slowly into stride, never better than mid-division
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakening when short of room 2f out
Nonrunner
LAY CLAIM has solid claims in this contest, and is preferred to Lean Machine and Imperial Delight. Sir Michael Stoute's runner was placed on his handicap debut last month, and now drops down from a mile in what's his fourth outing. Lightly raced last year, when he was turned over as short-priced favourite, he looked to have come on for a winter's schooling, and today could be his day to finally reward backers. Lean Machine may be in the grip of the handicapper after being well beaten last time out, but has come down a pound. The fact Richard Hughes is on board the yard's other runner, Kurtanella, may be a clue in itself. Imperial Delight won a modest maiden at Brighton last month, and didn't trouble the judge in his previous handicap run. The last three winners of this race have all been returned at double-figure odds; we don't think we'll get anything like that today, but we're supporting Lay Claim.
Oil Strike 14-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 8th of 20, 5l behind Dubai Set (9-4) at Doncaster 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Nov.
Kurtanella 50-1 (8-2) In touch, switched sharply right and hampered rival 5f out, weakened 3f out, 8th of 10, 21l behind Dafeef (9-2) at Salisbury 7f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in May.
Lay Claim (USA) 7-2 (8-10) In touch, headway to track leaders over 2f out, effort on inside when not much room over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Colonel Carter (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Imperial Delight 10-3 (9-1) Chasing leaders when hampered and shuffled back towards rear over 4f out, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon clear easily, won at Brighton 6f mdn stks (5) gf in May beating Frequency (9-1) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Streets Of War (USA) 3-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and switched left over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Tagseed (9-12) at Warwick 7f mdn stks (5) gd in May.
Goodwood Maestro 16-1 (8-5) Behind, some late headway, never dangerous, 8th of 15, 15l behind Fireback (8-6) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in May.
Lean Machine 11-4 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway to modest 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 8l behind Flambeau (8-12) at Newbury 7f 3yo mdn (4) gf in May.
Dylanesque 16-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 11l behind Leviathan (9-1) at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Fivefold (USA) 14-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out, 11th of 13, 15l behind Fontley (8-12) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Kerchak (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon pushed along towards rear, ridden 3f out, made some late headway, never in contention, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Mejd (9-0) at Bath 1m 3yo stk 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Avonside (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride and badly hampered start, soon switched right to race in rear, pushed along 4f out, made some late headway, 6th of 12, 11l behind Mutafajer (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (5) gf in May.
Tenacestream (CAN) 66-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 14th of 15, 35l behind Arlequin (9-0) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
