slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway when not clear run and switched left well over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, effort over 1f out, no impression, soon weakened
held up towards rear, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on strongly to draw clear inside final furlong
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened and not much room
prominent, led over 4f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, hung left over 2f out, soon weakened and bumped
slowly into stride, outpaced, always behind
slowly into stride, held up in mid-division, ridden on outside over 2f out, edged right and headway over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, edged right and stayed on towards finish
mid-division, headway when not clear run over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, hung left and stayed on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
soon led, headed over 4f out, driven to regain lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on, no chance with winner
CROCODILE BAY ticks more boxes than most in what looks the weaker of the two divisions of this handicap, and carries our support ahead of Soto and The History Man. Crocodile Bay has a stone in hand over the joint top-weights Knavesmire and Island Home, and has only gone up 3lbs for winning at Hamilton. That was his first win in 18 months though, so consistency certainly isn't his middle name. Island Home hasn't been seen for nearly two years, and all her previous six runs all came in France, so market support could be significant. Soto has a good draw and is a likely front runner, but may find the 6lb rise for winning over a slightly shorter trip at Catterick too much of a handicap. The History Man has previously won off a higher mark than he's on now, and he returned to form on his penultimate run. Interestingly this is the first time in 69 runs that he's raced over more than five or six furlongs, and he's Kirsty Milczarek's only scheduled ride on the card. The one we're backing though is Crocodile Bay.
Island Home (8-7) 5th of 8, 6l behind Chausson Dore (8-4) at Saint-cloud(FR) 6f stk hvy in Nov '08.
Captainrisk (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Always in rear, 8th of 10, 8l behind Piazza San Pietro (8-11) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Imperial Djay (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Held up towards rear far side group, headway over 1f out, soon not much room and switched right, kept on towards finish to lead far side group, held by stands side winner, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Sairaam (9-0) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Sea Salt 33-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up mid-division, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 6l behind King Of Eden (8-13) at Hamilton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Soto 16-1 (9-5) Made all, set strong pace, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish, won at Catterick 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf beating Divertimenti (8-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
The History Man (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, driven over 2f out, lost place when not much room over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 11, 8l behind Exceedingly Good (8-3) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Celestial Tryst 100-1 (8-11) Behind and soon outpaced, never dangerous, last of 11, 17l behind Kellys Eye (9-2) at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Could It Be Magic 10-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 14, 7l behind Trewarthenick (8-13) at Chepstow 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in May.
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 9-2 (8-8) Tracked leader, led 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well, won at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Anthemion (8-2) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Royal Patriot (IRE) 18-1 (8-7) Pulled hard, tracked winner after 1f until ridden inside final 3f, weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 6, 17l behind Secretive (8-13) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Cool Art (IRE) 10-1 (8-1) Held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, headway on inside 1f out, no impression, 6th of 13, 7l behind Ryedane (8-8) at Carlisle 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in May.
Mad Millie (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, under pressure halfway, soon beaten, 7th of 11, 5l behind Angie's Nap (8-5) at Southwell 5f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Sep.
Knavesmire (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, soon detatched in rear, never dangerous, last of 13, 26l behind Academy Blues (9-9) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Boy Racer (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Dwelt, soon chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, eased when no chance final furlong, 9th of 13, 11l behind Green Poppy (9-13) at Redcar 6f am mdn hcp 0-60 (6) gd.
