held up in touch, headway to track leader over 4f out, challenged 3f out, soon led, stayed on strongly
held up, pushed along 5f out, soon struggling in rear
slowly into stride, never travelling in rear, some headway and just about in touch over 6f out, ridden and no chance final 3f
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4f out, soon in rear, tailed off
soon led, ridden and joined 3f out, soon headed, no chance with winner from 2f out, finished tired but held on to hold 2nd
held up in touch, went 3rd 4f out, driven and no impression from over 2f out, lost modest 3rd inside final furlong
chased leader until over 4f out, soon weakened, tailed off
took keen hold, tracked leading trio until weakened 3f out
RED EXPRESSO is one of half a dozen in the field to have winning form at Southwell, but we'll side with him to follow up a recent Wolverhampton success, although we acknowledge the claims of Greenbelt and Trouble Mountain. Ollie Pears' gelding came back with a win in an apprentices' handicap following a rest for most of the year having been tried hurdling. His win here came last December in a maiden which he couldn't follow up, but if keen to show his undoubted ability he can land the spoils here. Greenbelt has won here three times in the first, but not for a couple of years, and gains weight all round. On his day he's more than capable of taking this heat. Trouble Mountain is the old boy in the field, and although he's never won on an artificial surface, he's proved himself versatile in testing and fast conditions. He's won off a much higher mark than he's now racing off, but he is getting on a bit. It's a trappy finale, with preference for Red Expresso.
Ibrox (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up, driven along and struggling over 3f out, 9th of 14, 21l behind No Wonga (10-3) at Haydock 1m 4f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gf in Sep.
Red Expresso (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f app hcp (6) pol in Sep beating My Mate Mal (9-8) by nk, 11 ran.
Astrolibra 14-1 (10-4) Held up, headway on inside over 2f out, never reached leaders, 6th of 14, 10l behind No Wonga (10-3) at Haydock 1m 4f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gf in Sep.
Echo Dancer 11-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 5l behind Paquerettza (9-8) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Jul.
Wing Diva (IRE) 5-1 (9-13) Steadied start, pulled hard in rear, headway over 5f out, ridden 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 8, 32l behind Proficiency (9-9) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Jul.
Eightdaysaweek 22-1 (9-2) Mid-division, chased leaders 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 6l behind Nevada Desert (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol.
Trouble Mountain (USA) 7-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 15, 8l behind Zaplamation (10-2) at Redcar 1m 2f lady am hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Plenilune (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 17, 23l behind Agilete (9-7) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Greenbelt 25-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2l behind Nakoma (10-1) at Newcastle 1m 4f am hcp (6) gs.
