towards rear, effort when not much room when switched right over 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden to challenge and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
in touch, ridden along halfway, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, driven over 1f out, soon beaten
chased leaders to halfway
mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression
prominent, ridden along halfway, onepaced final furlong
made all, ridden over 2f out, edged left approaching final furlong, kept on under pressure
dwelt and soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
A trappy affair to get matters underway and Compton Classic is the pick ahead of African Storm and Came Back. The selection does have to bounce back from a modest run at the course but its worth noting that that was over six furlongs and this is back to a much more suitable five. African Storm had bits and pieces of form for Sylvester Kirk. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that he could bounce back to form but he's been held in recent races. Came Back is fairly honest. He won here earlier in the year although that came over six furlongs rather than today's five. Former Kevin Ryan inmate Guto has had brighter days than this and he managed to get his head at Kempton recently and has to be respected accordingly. Gifted Lass is a course and distance specialist and is likely to have her followers in spite of a few modest runs of late. Kissi Kissi probably ran his best race for a while last time out but that isn't saying much. Detonate has a record of 0 from 54 while Percy Douglas is capable of running a solid race at big odds. Not a race with much strength in depth and we are with Compton Classic.
Compton Classic 5-1 (8-6) In touch, led halfway, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 6l behind Crimson King (8-8) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Came Back (IRE) 7-4fav (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 9th of 13, 8l behind Norcroft (8-13) at W'hampton 6f app hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Percy Douglas 50-1 (8-5) Chased leaders until halfway, last of 12, 19l behind Is It Time (8-10) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Chocolate Sands 12-1 (9-3) Prominent, took keen hold, hung right over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 7th of 8, 15l behind Grand Assault (9-3) at W'hampton 6f mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Gifted Lass 10-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 11, 9l behind Commander Wish (8-6) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Kissi Kissi 25-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Gone'n'dunnett (8-2) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
African Storm (IRE) 66-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 9l behind Strabinios King (8-7) at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol.
Detonate 14-1 (8-3) Led, ridden and driven clear over 1f out, headed and weakened well inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 5l behind Grey Gurkha (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol.
Axis Shield (IRE) 40-1 (8-0) With leaders far side group, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 10l behind Baybshambles (8-13) at Catterick 5f app hcp (6) gd in Oct.
Minimum Fuss (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 11l behind Commander Wish (8-11) at W'hampton 5f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Oct.
Sheriff Star 100-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 11, 21l behind Divine Spirit (8-10) at Beverley 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Guto 10-1 (9-0) Pressed leader, led after 2f, ridden and headed 1f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 5l behind Strabinios King (8-7) at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol.
