pushed along and outpaced in rear, ridden halfway, nearest finish
close up, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly approaching final furlong, pressed inside final furlong, all out, gamely
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed narrowly approaching final furlong, driven and still every chance inside final furlong, just held
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader until pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out
raced wide close up, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
slow into stride, towards rear, weakened over 3f out
None of these have raced on the Fibresand before but EXPENSIVE DIRHAM was beaten only a neck over today’s trip at Pontefract on her handicap debut. Mark Johnston’s filly may well prove good enough in this. Kuwait Shield won over 7f at Catterick on his handicap bow and is preferred to Hooroo, despite a 5lb rise, while Alibaba just missed out in maiden company at Beverley and looks best of those handicapping for the first time.
Expensive Dirham 10-3 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, kept on strongly inside final furlong, held near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Walkonby (8-12) at Pontefract 1m fll (4) gs in Sep.
Bermuda Schwartz 7-1 (9-2) Held up mid-division, niggled along over 2f out, reminder well over 1f out, no headway, 5th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Spantik (9-2) at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Aug.
Kuwait Shield 11-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Catterick 7f (4) gf in Sep beating Eton College (10-4) by 2l, 6 ran.
Alibaba 14-1 (9-5) Led, hard pressed from over 1f out, edged left, just lost out on the nod post, 2nd of 8, shd behind Magna Moralia (9-5) at Beverley 7f mdn stks (5) gf in Aug.
Forus 20-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 1f out, soon no impression, 8th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Passing Fashion (9-3) at Lingfield 1m stks (6) gf in Aug.
Hooroo (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Mid-division, stayed on late, nearest finish, 6th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Ralphy Boy Two (9-1) at Carlisle 7f (5) gf in Aug.
Handlebars (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon beaten, 9th of 12, 8 1/2l behind Morisco (9-5) at Ayr 1m stks (4) gd in Sep.