held up in mid-division, ridden when not clear run over 2f out, weakened soon after
in touch, headway and every chance 2f out, chased leaders until no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, good headway on outside over 2f out, led inside final 2f, kept on well
mid-division, driven on outside over 2f out, no impression
held up towards rear, ridden and beaten 3f out
held up in rear, headway 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong but always held
chased leaders, driven over 2f out, weakening when hampered entering final furlong
held up, ridden and no chance when hampered 2f out and over 1f out
with leader, led 6f out, headed inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
always towards rear, no chance when hampered inside final 2f
led for 2f, chased leaders to 2f out soon weakened
held up in rear, no clear run on inside over 2f out until switched right to rails over 1f out and stayed on inside final furlong
held up in rear, headway from 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong
took keen hold tracking leaders, losing place when not much room on rails 2f out and soon eased
chased leaders 6f
Optimus is given the nod over Irony, Sky Quest, Kildare Sun and Monkey Glas to name but a few. Optimus has been in good form of late, gaining his first win for Brendan Powell in a claimer here in July, and also running well in defeat at Leicester and Goodwood, going down narrowly on each occasion. The former Gerard Butler inmate remains nicely handicapped, and is fancied to strike again. Irony is not the force he once was, but showed signs of a return to form when fourth here a fortnight ago, and it would be no surprise to see him in the shake up. Further down the weights, the well-drawn Sky Quest makes some appeal, having been very consistent of late, while Kildare Sun shaped well in defeat at Wolverhampton last time, and will need a strong gallop. Pontefract winner Monkey Glas failed to cope with a 6lb rise at Haydock, but may appreciate the return to this stiffer finish, and is another to consider for place purposes. However, for the winner we return to Optimus.
Will He Wish 40-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 6l behind Cactus Rose (9-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Irony (IRE) 50-1 (9-4) Disputed lead, kept on well when strongly pressed from over 1f out, outpaced inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Cactus Rose (9-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Bold Diktator 8-1 (9-5) Awkward start, headway on inside over 1f out, not reach leaders, 7th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Just Bond (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Aug.
Namid Reprobate (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Pulled hard, held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 9th of 10, 3l behind Resplendent Nova (9-12) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Aug.
Scarlet Flyer (USA) 6-1 (9-5) Held up, not clear run over 1f out, soon switched left and headway, ridden to challenge final furlong, not much room and weakened close home, 7th of 13, 5l behind Kasumi (9-4) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Aug.
Symbol Of Peace (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression, 11th of 12, 17l behind Suits Me (8-8) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Optimus (USA) 5-2fav (11-11) In touch, headway 3f out, soon ridden, went 3rd entering final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Snark (11-5) at Goodwood 1m 1f amt hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Fabrian 12-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, ridden and losing place when squeezed out over 1f out, 10th of 14, 5l behind Cactus Rose (9-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Sky Quest (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Robustian (11-6) at Sandown 1m 2f amt hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Spume (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, ridden and hung left from 2f out, no impression final fulong, 8th of 9, 9l behind Orpen Wide (9-1) at Haydock 1m hcap (4) gf.
Kildare Sun (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) In touch, headway over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Veiled Applause (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
First Mate (IRE) 7-4fav (9-2) With leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, one pace, 5th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Prospect Place (9-1) at Haydock 6f 2yo hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Sept '06.
Lazy Darren 14-1 (9-3) Held up in 7th, headway on inside from 3f out, staying on when not clear run over 1f out, no chance after, 4th of 11, 2l behind Don't Panic (9-7) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Waterline Twenty (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, outpaced 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 7th of 12, 6l behind Esoterica (8-13) at Thirsk 1m hcap (5) gf.
Glenmuir (IRE) 17-2 (9-3) Took keen hold, soon tracking leaders, hung left under pressure over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 8l behind Glencalvie (9-4) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Laish Ya Hajar (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, lost place 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 18l behind The Grey Berry (9-3) at Beverley 1m 3yo hcp (4) hvy in Jul.
Monkey Glas (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, challenged over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Sunlight (9-7) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Aug.