always behind
held up in touch, smooth headway from 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden approaching final furlong, kept on gamely
led, pushed along over 7f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, under pressure with 3f out, one pace final 2f
held up in rear, driven and headway over 4f out, soon chasing leaders, one pace approaching final furlong
held up mid-division, lost place approaching 3f out, pulled up over 2f out
held up, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, hung right under pressure inside final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders, headway to lead over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon faded
mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on
mid-division, headway well over 1f out, carried right inside final furlong, no extra
slowly away, headway after 2f, soon prominent, under pressure and weakened over 4f out, tailed off
FREGATE ISLAND and Dane O'Neill look like a good team to side with in this open handicap. Hawridge King and Mith Hill can also be expected to be on the ball, while Swingkeel is open to further improvement and, with an 11lb weight-for-age allowance aiding his cause, John Dunlop's gelding has a solid each-way chance on these terms. Still, this is a tough assignment for the son of Singspiel and he needs to be at the top of his game. Mith Hill is consistent under both codes of racing and can be relied upon to give his all. Quite whether that will be good enough for win only purposes on ground that may be firmer than ideal is debatable, though. Hawridge King wins in his turn and will be suited by the conditions. The tight turns of Warwick suit him well and he can certainly be involved in the shake up if he runs to the best of his past form. Still, it is hard to crib the consistency of Fregate Island, who has won or made the frame in eight of his last nine starts and he has to merit the most serious consideration. The son of Daylami has winning form on good to firm ground so will have no excuses on that score. His style of running will always leave him vulnerable to a sucker punch but his willing attitude gives him a most valuable tool to protect himself with today.
Horseford Hill 8-1 (9-9) Behind and lost touch 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Armure (8-5) at Kempton 1m 3f hcap (4) pol.
Fregate Island (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Soon led, ridden 2f out, headed, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Jagger (9-2) at Great Leighs 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Aug.
Tora Bora (GER) (8-9) 2nd of 10, shd behind Day Walker (8-7) at Hamburg 1m 3f lst stk sft in Jul '05.
Absolut Power (GER) 33-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, reminders in rear, ridden over 6f out, never dangerous, 5th of 7, 19l behind Askar Tau (9-2) at Great Leighs 2m hcap (2) pol.
Hawridge King 7-1 (9-9) Mid-division, took closer order 9f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Ainama (10-0) at Chester 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Toldo (IRE) 9-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway 6f out, lost place over 4f out, 9th of 10, well behind Bollin Felix (9-9) at Thirsk 2m hcap (4) sft.
Haarth Sovereign (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Hits Only Vic (10-0) at Haydock 1m 6f hcap (4) hvy.
Irish Quest (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon beaten, 11th of 15, 14l behind Kiribati King (9-0) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcap (5) gs.
Mith Hill 12-1 (8-13) Chased leader, kept on same pace from 2f out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Bollin Felix (9-9) at Thirsk 2m hcap (4) sft.
Swingkeel (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on over 1f out, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Precision Break (9-4) at Kempton 2m 3yo hcp (4) pol.
Trew Style 14-1 (9-0) Led and soon well clear, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 4th of 11, 4l behind Go Amwell (7-11) at Goodwood 2m hcap (5) sft.
