reluctant to load in stalls, always towards rear
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, chasing leaders and edged left over 2f out, driven and weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, driven and went 2nd over 1f out, lost 2nd final 100 yards, kept on same pace, lost 3rd post
held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway over 2f out, chased leaders final furlong, not quicken final 100 yards, went 3rd post
in touch, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, plugged on again inside final furlong, no threat
always towards rear, never a factor
slight lead but pressed, hung left and headed 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden to lead on rail 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, headed post
tracked leader, challenged 3f out, ridden 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, pushed along 4f out, plugged on final 2f, never involved
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on outside between horses over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, chased leader final 100 yards, driven ahead post
slowly into stride, behind, headway on wide outside over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, weakened
The most competitive race on the card has been saved for the last but it's difficult to make a case for Life And Times after he turned in a shocking effort at Ffos Las when odds-on. Cruiser likes it here and his yard is going well but he probably has a few pounds too much to carry while Red Art also looks vulnerable. Oisin Murphy's claim will help Epsom second Melvin The Grate and he's one for the shortlist along with impressive Sandown winner First Post, though the latter appears to need soft ground. Choral Festival can never be ignored here but Investment Expert was a shade disappointing when favourite at Haydock last month. LEGAL WAVES has been struggling to get home over further so a drop in distance will be appreciated. He's been a little frustrating so far but isn't badly treated on his best form and can follow up the stable's success in this 12 months ago.
Timothy T 9-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, edged right and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Waiter's Dream (9-0) at York 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug '10.
Life And Times (USA) 8-15fav (9-10) Soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 5, 10l behind Defiant Spirit (9-5) at Ffos Las 1m mdn stks (4) sft in Sep.
Hilali (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Held up, headway over 2f out, weakening when not much room over 1f out, 8th of 14, 13l behind Rossetti (10-13) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Sep.
Cruiser 14-1 (9-9) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, headway 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 8l behind Cornrow (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Red Art (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside 2f out, chasing leaders and pressing for places inside final furlong, no extra in closing stages, 5th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Footstepsintherain (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Melvin The Grate (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Steadied start, held up tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd inside final 3f, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed approaching final furlong, not pace of winner, held on for 2nd, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Thouwra (9-7) at Epsom Downs 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
First Post (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out when edged left, ran on, won at Sandown 1m hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Sep beating Rocky Reef (9-3) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Intomist (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) In rear, ridden over 3f out, headway entering final furlong, stayed on, not reach leaders, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Brocklebank (9-5) at Epsom Downs 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Sep.
Order Of Service 11-2 (8-13) Always towards rear, never involved, 9th of 11, 9l behind Future Reference (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Legal Waves (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Evangelist (9-4) at Warwick 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Collodi (GER) 14-1 (9-8) Held up in rear, struggling 3f out, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 15l behind Fazza (8-10) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
Choral Festival 16-1 (9-8) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, late headway, never on terms, 5th of 13, 12l behind Headline News (9-8) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Sep.
Investment Expert (IRE) 4-1fav (9-1) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 12, 9l behind Multi Bene (9-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sep.
Starlight Symphony (IRE) 7-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, lost place over 2f out, soon behind, last of 8, 28l behind Lanansaak (8-8) at Ascot 1m flls hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Sep.
