towards rear, never dangerous
held up behind leaders, led 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong
soon outpaced and always towards rear
towards rear and soon chased along, headway over 1f, stayed on final furlong
took keen hold in touch, ridden over 2f, weakened over 1f
prominent, ridden over 2f, every chance approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
led, headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, effort halfway, no impression
prominent, ridden to challenge and every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, never a factor
UNBIASED is not one to trust implicitly but he won't get many better opportunities than this and gets our vote ahead of Reine De Violette. John Dunlop's colt didn't see the racecourse as a two-year-old which is probably a good job as then he would have been winless for longer, however his recent runs with the blinkers on have been consistent if not quite up to winning standard. The drop in trip shouldn't be a problem and perhaps he can get off the mark today. Reine De Violette needs to bounce back from a poor run last time when well-fancied and she has a bit to prove, as does Captain Jack Black who has a couple of pirates patches on today for the first time (blinkers). Backers of Thanxforthat who keep the faith will be looking forward to the day when they can say it without irony as he has had lots of chances, whilst Oskari is at least unexposed after just one start but is unlikely to be anything other than a plater. Let's hope that the sponsor of the race, Janet Lord, has more luck when she goes to the bingo, however maybe she'll be able to buy a new dabber by having a quid or two on Unbiased.
Captain Jack Black 80-1 (7-12) Held up in rear, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 28l behind Red Current (8-9) at Leicester 1m 2f clm (6) gd in Sept.
Dancing Maite 11-4 (9-3) Always prominent, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, headed last strides, 2nd of 13, shd behind Tangerine Trees (9-3) at W'hampton 6f 3yo mdn aut (6) pol.
Modern Practice (IRE) 80-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, weakened 2f out, 7th of 11, 14l behind Forzarzi (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Sept.
Oskari 100-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, always behind, 11th of 14, 36l behind Jaadull (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Thanxforthat (USA) 5-2fav (8-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Mr Lu (7-13) at Musselburgh 7f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Unbiased (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, led 2f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, strong rally near finish, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Izzibizzi (8-12) at Kempton 1m mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Vanatina (IRE) 22-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 14, 13l behind Harare (9-7) at Chester 1m app hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Anna Lane 50-1 (8-7) In rear, outpaced halfway, tailed off over 1f out, 8th of 9, 31l behind Romantic Destiny (8-12) at Thirsk 7f mdn stk (5) gf in Jul.
Reine de Violette 2-1fav (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon in touch on outside, hung badly right on bend over 1f out and weakened, 10th of 11, 18l behind Bahamian Kid (9-3) at W'hampton 7f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Sept.
Tiegan An Josh 200-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 14, well behind Jaadull (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 3yo mdn (5) gd.
