steadied to be in touch in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden to chase leading pair over 1f out, hung left and no impression final furlong
close up, short of room when slipped and fell bend over 2f out
made all, ridden and hung left over 1f out, driven and hung right inside final furlong, ran on gamely
keen tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, challenging when driven and jinked right inside final furlong, soon straightened and ran on close home, just failed
in touch in rear, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders
tracked winner until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
CACTUS VALLEY got off the mark at Sandown last time and is worth sticking with in this as he's less exposed than his main rivals. They include Cresta Star, who should appreciate the drop back to her winning trip while Henry Clay moves in the opposite direction having scored over a mile at Kempton recently. It was soft ground when April Ciel won over C&D in June under today's apprentice and he makes more appeal than both Lingfield winner Falcon's Reign and Daghash.
Cactus Valley (IRE) 10-3fav (9-2) Held up towards rear, not clear run and switched right to outside over 2f out, sustained run on outside over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf beating Scottish Star (9-8) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Cresta Star 14-1 (9-0) Held up, always towards rear, 15th of 16, 17l behind Silver Lime (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Henry Clay 15-2 (8-11) Made all, shaken up and quickened over 1f out, soon edged left, kept on well, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Asifa (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Daghash 33-1 (8-0) Held up towards rear, raced towards near side 7f out, headway over 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 6th of 10, 15l behind Sir John Hawkwood (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Falcon's Reign (FR) 33-1 (9-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 16, 16l behind Keepax (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
April Ciel 10-3 (9-6) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 4l behind The Quarterjack (8-10) at Bath 1m 4f 3yo app hcp 0-75 (5) sft.