soon led, headed 5f out, ridden along over 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, led 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up, pushed along over 5f out, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, driven and kept on gamely final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, one pace final furlong
This is quite tricky and maybe Press Express can win, with Gloucester and Just Lille suggested as the main dangers. Just Lille has won his last three and has been raised four pounds for the most recent of them. He is clearly in good heart but has run only once on soft in the past, and that was a disappointing effort. French import Gloucester is hard to assess but he is a French winner and will handle the going and the betting might prove to be your best guide. Much as Press Express only landed a seller last time, it did come on soft going and will have done his confidence good and he is not badly weighted based on his best 2006 efforts. Sporting Gesture has twice won over course and distance but his best form is all on good or faster going. Shape Up has been beaten since being revised for his Nottingham romp in April, while you can build the case for Cotton Eyed Joe based on his best 2006 form. Once again, though, the selection is Press Express.
Gloucester (8-9) Prominent, led over 1f out, easily, won at Deauville 1m 4f 3yo stk std in Aug beating Green Tango (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Shape Up (IRE) 7-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, not much room over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 7, 5l behind Luna Landing (8-10) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcap (3) gf.
Sporting Gesture 14-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Gigs Magic (8-4) at Catterick 1m 4f hcap (5) gf.
Charlotte Vale 7-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, one pace final 2f, 4th of 9, 5l behind Gigs Magic (8-4) at Catterick 1m 4f hcap (5) gf.
Press Express (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Held up, headway halfway, ran on to lead close home, won at Leicester 1m 2f sll (6) sft in May beating Prince Des Neiges (9-7) by a shd, 12 ran.
Just Lille (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Held up behind leaders, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Beverley 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (5) gf in May beating Augustine (10-4) by a nk, 12 ran.
Cotton Eyed Joe (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 7l behind Global Strategy (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f hcap (5) fbs in May.
