soon tracking clear leader, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
held up, headway 5f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
led and soon clear until 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, niggled along halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, led 2f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong
held up mid-division, chased leader 6f out, ridden 2f out, one pace
tracked leader early, lost place over 6f out, headway over 1f out, kept on
held up, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on under pressure
held up in touch, weakened 5f out
Not the strongest of heats but RARE COINCIDENCE goes well here and he gets a tentative vote ahead of Swords and Sir Sandicliffe. The selection won here off a four pounds lower mark in April and has been running consistently well since. He is sure to run his race, not a comment that applies to many of these. Swords has dropped to a decent mark and is another who goes well on this surface but recent efforts temper enthusiasm. Sir Sandicliffe is also a course winner and if the return to all-weather action sparks a revival, he is only three pounds higher than his last winning mark. Of the others Dee Cee Elle has been in winning form over hurdles - albeit at the lowest level - and at least he arrives here in good heart.
Vertueux (FR) 33-1 (9-13) Soon led, ridden 5f out, headed 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Pseudonym (9-7) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul.
Dark Energy 18-1 (8-12) Slowly away, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 4th inside final furlong, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 9l behind Sir Boss (9-7) at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Rare Coincidence 7-2fav (10-6) Led, headed over 6f out, remained close up, weakened well over 1f out, 6th of 11, 11l behind Hi Dancer (10-0) at Hamilton 1m 5f ldy hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jun.
Sir Sandicliffe (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Always mid-division, 7th of 10, 12l behind Miss Keck (9-2) at Thirsk 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Swords 13-2 (9-5) Pushed along leaving stalls, towards rear, ridden 4f out, never a factor, 7th of 13, 14l behind Crimson Mitre (10-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) fbs in Jul.
Snowberry Hill (USA) 11-2 (9-2) Held up in rear, pushed along over 6f out, tailed off 4f out, last of 9, well behind No Rules (9-2) at Doncaster 2m (6) gs in Jul.
Lilac Wine 25-1 (10-4) Tracked winner 5f, stayed prominent until weakened 3f out, 10th of 14, 28l behind Corking (9-13) at Bath 2m 1f am hcp 0-65 (6) gs in May.
Dee Cee Elle 12-1 (8-1) Mid-division, ridden and one pace final 2f, 5th of 9, 4l behind Auntie Mame (9-3) at Bath 1m 4f flls hcp 0-65 (6) fm in May.
Tiger Tee (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, weakened straight, last of 10, 27l behind Lara Celeb (9-1) at Gowran Park 1m 1f 3yo app hcp gd in Aug '08.
Mean Machine (IRE) 50-1 (8-3) Soon chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 11, 17l behind Credential (8-8) at Southwell 1m 3f (6) fbs in Jul.