chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, soon headed, no extra inside final furlong
slow away, always towards rear
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance when edged left over 1f out, weakened final furlong
pushed along in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, every chance entering final furlong, not quicken
mid-division, ridden over 4f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance when hampered over 1f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on
always behind
chased leaders, not much room over 1f out, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on
The shortlist contains Shifty Night, Contented and Pending, with the vote going to Shifty Night. Doctor Dennis, Shifty Night and Attorney are the course and distance winners in the line-up and, of these, Shifty Night might prove to be the best today, while Desert Opal comes here on the back of a Wolverhampton win but seems better at that track. It could be interesting that Contented drops in trip today following a couple of good runs, so watch the betting, but Bahrain Gold has more to do that when winning in Banded company last time. Finally, Pending has dropped to a potentially-interesting mark, and has Frankie booked as he drops in trip today. Overall, though, we will just side with Shifty Night.
Desert Opal 20-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, edged left and led well inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 5f hcap (6) pol in Mar beating Sahara Silk (9-1) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Val de Maal (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Prominet, push along halfway, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Flying Edge (8-10) at Ripon 6f app hcp (5) gd in Sept.
Doctor Dennis (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (8-7) Outpaced, headway and not clear run on the stand rail over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Winning Pleasure (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Mar.
Shifty Night (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Chased leaders 4f, 10th of 11, 12l behind Silver Dane (8-4) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Mar.
Mill By The Stream 7-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 16, 8l behind Geordie Dancer (8-13) at Carlisle 6f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Sept.
Contented (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Held up, headway and not much room final furlong, switched and ran on, 4th of 14, 3/4l behind Riquewihr (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Attorney 40-1 (8-11) Towards rear, some late headway but never near to challenge, 6th of 14, 9l behind Sweet Pickle (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Mar.
Drum Dance (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) In touch, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 19, 16l behind Out of India (8-8) at Redcar 7f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Waggledance (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Took keen hold behind leader, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon beaten, last of 11, 39l behind Oonagh Maccool (8-8) at Pontefract 1m mdn stk (4) gf in Aug.
Bahrain Gold (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, went 3rd over 2f out, ridden and led over 1f out, driven out, won at Southwell 7f banded stk (7) fbs in Feb beating Justcallmehandsome (8-4) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Pending (IRE) 4-1 (8-9) Held up and keen, headway over 5f out, chased winner 3f out until no extra inside furlong, 5th of 10, 2l behind Merdiff (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Mar.
Piccleyes 18-1 (8-6) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead just over 1f out, headed and weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 4l behind Sweetest Revenge (9-3) at W'hampton 6f handicap (6) pol in Mar.
