always prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on
in touch, lost place halfway, struggling 6f out, tailed off
rapid headway to join leaders after 3f, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, stayed on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders
slowly into stride, held up in rear, some headway final furlong
took keen hold, held up and behind, headway over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, soon challenging and every chance, not quicken and hung left well inside final furlong
mid-division, headway on outside 5f out, narrow lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
prominent, went 2nd halfway, led over 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway on inside well over 1f, soon ridden and kept on under pressure inside final furlong
led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 4f out, chased leaders and every chance 2f out, hung right and not quicken well inside final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 4f out, soon lost place and in rear, tailed off
A bigger field than usual for this stayers' contest and with many of these exposed we will take a chance on SA NAU to win it for Tom Keddy, while Baan and Sir Sandicliffe can both go well. The selection has won from a higher mark than today's 53 in the past, but has not seen a racecourse since something went amiss at Huntingdon almost two years ago. This trip suits and he acts on good ground on turf, so there is hope that he will do better than when tried here previously. The stable's runners are in form and his trainer wouldn't take any chances with his runner's fitness after such a lengthy lay-off so we'll chance him. Baan is a Thirsk specialist, but also acts on good ground on turf and stays two miles. He looks to have claims from this mark, though he has never won yet in 20 attempts on artificial surfaces. Sir Sandicliffe has won here off 52 in the past and is 9lbs higher than that today due to some reasonably consistent form in defeat of late, meaning it will be tough for him to go better than a place again here. Another consistent performer has been John Forbes, who is 8lbs higher than when winning on soft ground at Ayr a couple of starts back and just about proved he gets this far at Catterick last time. Deuce and Golden Future both need to raise their games, though not by too much, to take a close hand, but preference is for Sa Nau.
John Forbes 4-1fav (9-7) Mid-division, ridden and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Promise Maker (9-6) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Sep.
City Well 66-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 10, well behind Jadalee (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep.
Baan (USA) 11-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden over 4f out, chased leader over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 5l behind Dulcie (8-5) at York 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Sep.
Black Or Red (IRE) 4-1fav (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 8th of 11, 18l behind Promise Maker (9-6) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Sep.
Sir Sandicliffe (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Dwelt, behind, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not reached leaders, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Simple Jim (9-0) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sep.
King In Waiting (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 15, 2 3/4l behind Sendali (9-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Sep.
Deuce 7-2 (8-5) Close up, ridden 6f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 39l behind The Last Don (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Sa Nau 10-1 (8-9) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 16, 17l behind Highland Legacy (9-0) at Newbury 2m hcap (5) gs in Oct '07.
Golden Future 7-1 (9-1) In touch, driven to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon headed and one pace, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Rosewin (8-9) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Sep.
Wester Lodge (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Led after 2f, headed 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 9l behind Soundbyte (10-8) at Goodwood 1m 3f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gf in Sep.
The Quiet Genius 14-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never nearer, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Shifting Gold (9-4) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Sep.
Mymateeric 20-1 (8-6) Held up towards rear, hung right over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with front duo, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Perception (9-4) at Kempton 2m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Sep.
Just Call Me Dave (USA) 40-1 (8-12) Keen in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 10, 18l behind Spirit Is Needed (8-12) at Leicester 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf in Sep.
