chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, stayed on one pace under pressure
reared start, soon in touch in rear, pushed along halfway, soon beaten
chased leaders on outside, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leader, ridden and outpaced 2f out, rallying when struck on head by rival jockeys whip over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression
chased leaders, driven to lead over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong
made most, until headed over 1f out, no impression and lost 2nd inside final furlong
in touch, hard driven and stayed on one pace final 2f
Catspraddle, Home Sweet Home and Savernake Blue are on the short list and a chance is taken with Catspraddle. The filly won a similar race over course-and-distance last month but looked to pay the price for chasing a suicidal early gallop at Sandown. Handicapped over further trips, there is still a possibility that there is some room for manoeuvre off today's mark and we are prepared to take another chance. Home Sweet Home joined David Evans for little money having previously been in training with David Wachman. A winner at Ripon, that did demonstrate some improvement although there were a number of professional losers in behind. Savernake Blue carries a penalty but is at the right end of the handicap to exploit it. Confidently ridden from the rear by his young apprentice at Newmarket, connections will not mind the ground firming up. Lipizza has not shown too much in the way of form on this surface while followers of Makabul will look to a fair fourth at the track over five furlongs and the fact that second placed, Loch Verdi has gone on to win since. A tough race in which Catspraddle is given the tentative vote.
Bertie Southstreet 1-5fav (8-11) Made all, pushed out, won at Carlisle 5f 2yo mdn aut (5) frm in Jul '05 beating Greek Secret (8-11) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Savernake Blue 10-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up, driven and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp (4) frm beating Rapsgate (9-2) by 2l, 9 ran.
Makabul 7-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, not clear run 2f out, soon eased, 9th of 11, 7l behind Burning Incense (9-1) at Windsor 6f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Lipizza (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Keen, held up, not clear run from over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Zidane (10-0) at Newmarket 6f hcap (4) gf in Jun.
Home Sweet Home (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Held up behind leaders, ridden to lead well over 1f out, clear and pushed out final furlong, won at Ripon 6f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun beating Libor (9-3) by 4l, 14 ran.
Catspraddle (USA) 7-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 8l behind Glasshoughton (9-3) at Sandown 5f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Pearly Poll 25-1 (9-5) In touch until weakened over 1f out, 10th of 11, 16l behind Roman Quest (8-6) at Goodwood 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Jun.
