chased leader, pushed along halfway, ridden and no impression when lost 2nd entering final furlong, no extra final 150 yards
held up, off the pace in last pair, ridden 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd final 150 yards, no impression
chased leaders on outside, weakened over 1f out, hung right final furlong
tracked leaders on rail, headway halfway, 3rd 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well
soon led on rail, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened quickly
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up last, switched left inside final 2f, headway over 1f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, edged right and not quicken inside final furlong
Rocket Rob won this in 2013 and, due to the fact he hasn't won since, has dropped to such a lowly mark that he'll be fancied to repeat the process. Whitecrest completed a double in minor handicaps in June and is just 3lb higher than her last winning mark but it's about time EL VIENTO (NAP) was winning again. Richard Fahey's charge hasn't won for two years but has slipped to a reasonable mark as a consequence and has been showing up well in similar grade. Oscars Journey would be in the firing-line if the going eases further but Birdie Queen has a poor strike-rate.
Swendab (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 15 3/4l behind Sir Billy Wright (9-9) at Ffos Las 5f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Whitecrest 3-1fav (9-7) Chased leading trio, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Gentlemen (8-13) at Brighton 5f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Oscars Journey 9-2 (9-9) Made all, took keen hold, driven when hung right approaching final furlong, hard ridden, stayed on well, won at Nottingham 5f hcp (5) gs in Jul beating The Wispe (9-1) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
El Viento (FR) 12-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Funding Deficit (9-1) at Redcar 6f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Pucon 3-1fav (9-5) Led, ridden and headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 5, 5 3/4l behind Gentlemen (8-13) at Brighton 5f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Birdie Queen 7-2fav (9-2) Led until over 4f out, led again over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakening when short of room inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 4l behind Pour La Victoire (9-2) at Brighton 6f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Rocket Rob (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Soon outpaced in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 9, 1l behind Magical Daze (9-7) at Windsor 5f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
