raced keenly in rear, effort over 2f out, never on terms
soon led, lost action over 5f out, soon pulled up
slowly away, held up in rear, weakened well over 2f out, tailed off
tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, left in lead over 5f out, pushed along over 2f out, hard ridden inside final furlong, kept on well under pressure
held up in touch, shaken up over 4f out, under pressure 2f out, ran on final furlong, no chance with winner
held up in touch, tracked winner over 6f out, driven to challenge over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
With the yard going well we will take AUREATE to take advantage of a handy mark, while Akbabend and Geneva Geyser won't be far away. The Brian Ellison-trained selection has all the right credentials to land this prize, having already scored over course and distance in a seller, and having won from a higher mark in handicap company this year, when doing so at Southwell. He can throw in the odd bad run, but he did that last time, and hopefully with so much in his favour he can come good again tonight. Akbabend has been dropped 1lb by the assessor after going close in a Catterick maiden last time. The Refuse To Bend gelding proved that day that he has the stamina for this trip, and he has already gone well in defeat at Great Leighs, so there is hope that he will be fine on this surface. He is respected, along with Geneva Geyser. James Eustace steps the colt back up in trip again here, having made the frame on his only try over this far at Thirsk in the spring. He too, has not raced here before, but he has winning form on the Polytrack at Great Leighs and can be very competitive from this mark. Ethics Girl is another who can make her presence felt. She is just 1lb higher than when runner-up on fast ground at Epsom last time, and proved that day that she gets this far. Phoenix Flight does not know how to run a bad race, but suffers for that as the handicapper will not relent, and he again looks likely to take a supporting role, and preference is for Aureate.
Phoenix Flight (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway and switched left inside final 2f, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd well inside final furlong, closed on winner near finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind Ottoman Empire (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Geneva Geyser (GER) 16-1 (8-11) Went right start, pushed along to lead after 1f, jinked right entering straight, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 9l behind Dangerous Midge (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 2f stks 0-85 (3) gf in Sep.
Valdan (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, not much room over 4f out, soon lost place, last of 11, 13l behind Eton Fable (9-1) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) fm in Aug.
Benedict Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Mid-division, effort well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 8l behind Denton (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Akbabend 7-4 (9-2) With leader, clear from chasing group before halfway, led over 2f out, soon edged left under pressure, just held on (placed 2nd), in a race won by Akbabend (9-2) at Catterick 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf in Aug, 8 ran.
Secret Life 7-4fav (9-3) Tracked leader, challenged 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, no impression final furlong, 4th of 7, 8l behind Bawadi (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (4) pol in Aug.
Ethics Girl (IRE) 17-2 (9-0) Behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to chase winner inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Worth A King's (9-6) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f app hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Aureate 9-1 (8-4) Prominent, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 11, 31l behind Amanda Carter (8-10) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
