led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed next, one pace, no impression
held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, hit last, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out
soon tracking leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened when blundered 2 out
held up and keen, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, headway 5th, led and not fluent 2 out, stayed on well
held up, pushed along 4th, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 3 out
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
The shortlist contains Ortalan Bleu, Dafarabad and Copper Bay with the first-named getting only a narrow vote. A likeable type, Ortalan Bleu ran well for a long way behind Fair Along on his debut at Aintree and looks set to be involved in the shake-up here. Dan's Heir won well on his Market Rasen debut and has to be seriously considered. Copper Bay hails from a stable in form and his Leicester debut held plenty of promise, while Dafarabad looked nailed on for a similar race when second over course and distance on his debut and he is a major player. Orang Outan was well beaten by the decent Gardasee on his debut, but at least showed promise but, for the selection, we return to Ortalan Bleu.
Dan's Heir 9-4jt-fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, ridden 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (D) gd in Jul beating Goldstar Dancer (10-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Copper Bay (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Pulled hard in touch, led after 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Caribou (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft.
Dafarabad (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden to chase winner last, kept on flat, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Lankawi (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Fixateur 3-1 (10-12) Led, headed after 4 out, soon lost place, weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 29l behind Shiny Thing (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gd.
McCormack (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Gardasee (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) hvy, 10 ran.
Orang Outan (FR) 33-1 (10-11) In touch, pushed along after 2 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 13, 30l behind Gardasee (11-0) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (F) gs in Nov.
Ortolan Bleu (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Chased winner, effort approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 21l behind Fair Along (11-6) at Aintree 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Quasimodo (GB) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, one pace, 5th of 16, 25l behind Prime Contender (11-0) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft.
C'Est La Vie 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, hampered 2f out, weakened, 11th of 13, 14l behind Accomplish (8-10) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Sept (Flat).
