chased leader, ridden and came stand side over 2f out, lost 2nd place over 1f out, driven, kept on same pace
went to post feely, held up, ridden halfway, came stand side and weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon lost touch, came stand side over 2f out
held up mid-division, ridden and came stand side over 2f out, not trouble leaders
chased leading pair, came stand side over 2f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led briefly and hung right inside final furlong, no extra
soon pushed along in rear, came stand side over 2f out, ridden and some headway over 1f out, never dangerous
held up in rear, headway and came stand side over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, hung right and ran on
led, clear over 2f out, came stand side straight, headed inside final furlong, no extra
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Scotland The Brave gets nominated as the selection here ahead of Valentino Swing and Marshman. Frankie Dettori's booking for Scotland The Brave, a confirmed mud-lover, looks interesting and the mare can go well from a mark that is still fairly reasonable in the context of this race, we feel. A course and distance winner on soft going from a three-pounds lower mark in October, Valentino Swing could go well here, particularly if a break has freshened him up. Luckylover has it to prove on Turf from his current rating. Remarkably, Councellor has yet to race on soft going, while Sensuous, a soft-ground Chepstow winner last May, may need his first outing in nearly a year. Barons Spy was narrowly beaten from today's mark at Haydock two runs ago, although that run came on good to firm and, even though he acts on good to soft, he has no soft-ground form. Marshman showed signs of a revival at Goodwood last time and there's no doubt that he is on a good mark based on 2005 form. Ochre Bay's Turf form of the last two years has lacked panache, while Doctor's Cave has proven a revelation on the all-weather recently since being stepped up to seven furlongs, although his soft-ground form is not impressive. Once again, then, the vote goes to Scotland The Brave.
Luckylover 10-3jt-fav (9-1) Soon led, headed 2f out, faded, 4th of 10, 5l behind Moody Tunes (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m hcap (4) gd in May.
Councellor (FR) 33-1 (8-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, ridden over 3f out, beaten when hung right final furlong, 12th of 15, 10l behind Pintle (9-3) at Sandown 1m hcap (3) gd.
Proud Killer 11-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 14, 23l behind Finsbury (9-4) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jul.
Ochre Bay 8-1 (9-0) Soon outpaced, always behind, 9th of 10, 8l behind Lii Najma (8-5) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Jan.
Valentino Swing (IRE) 9-1 (8-9) Started very slowly, always in rear, 11th of 13, 5l behind Prince Tum Tum (9-8) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Scotland The Brave 11-1 (9-7) Led centre group, ridden over 2f out , weakened final furlong, 9th of 16, 9l behind Viva Volta (9-5) at Newcastle 7f hcap (5) gs.
The Osteopath (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (9-6) Held up behind leaders stands side, pushed along halfway, staying on until weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 8l behind Viva Volta (9-5) at Newcastle 7f hcap (5) gs.
Doctor's Cave 4-1 (9-3) Soon prominent, led over 5f out, hard ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Southwell 7f hcap (6) fbs in May beating Lii Najma (9-4) by 2l, 12 ran.
Barons Spy (IRE) 12-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 9l behind Habshan (9-5) at Newbury 1m hcap (4) gf.
Marshman (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, pushed along on outside over 2f out, never reached leaders, 7th of 12, 4l behind Scarlet Flyer (8-7) at Goodwood 7f hcap (4) gd in May.
