tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on, no impression
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakening inside final furlong
tracked leader, going well, led well over 1f out, ran on well comfortably
took keen hold, tracked leaders, not much room over 4f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up, driven along over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, never near leaders
prominent, driven along 2f out, edged left over 1f out, one pace
slowly into stride, held up, never on terms
mid-division, headway over 1f out, hampered inside final furlong, no chance after
prominent, not much room and lost place 5f out, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
always in rear
in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up, hung left over 1f out, headway final furlong, kept on
Nonrunner
A competitive race sees Cape Presto selected ahead of Joyeaux and Conjecture. A six-pounds penalty for his course and distance win six days ago should not stop Cape Presto from running well again. It is surprising that Conjecture has not raced on the all-weather since his juvenile days and he looks fairly weighted in doing just that today. Shade Cozy's mark is reasonable enough and, having proven himself over course and distance, should be considered, while Highland Song is another to consider from his current rating, and it would not entirely be a surprise if the drop in trip helped Caual Affair's chance today. If she is to get competitive, Canina will have to rediscover her course and distance winning form of February, while Gilded Cove would hold very good claims based on his best Wolverhampton form and is respected. Given that Sweet Pickle is closely weighted with him based on course-and-distance claiming form of March, she too can be given a squeak. Joyeaux, who is heading back towards a course-and-distance winning mark, is another to consider, as, accordingly, must Bond Playboy be, as he is closely weighted with her based on June course and distance form, while a run of modest efforts now sees Royal Orissa potentially well-handicapped, although that same scenario has applied for a while now. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Cape Presto.
Cape Presto (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating True Magic (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Conjecture 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 6th of 17, 2 1/2l behind How's She Cuttin' (8-12) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gs.
Shade Cozy (USA) 9-2 (9-1) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 4l behind Keyaki (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
Highland Song (IRE) 33-1 (8-1) Held up, effort half way, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 6l behind Blazing Heights (9-0) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Richelieu 20-1 (9-6) Chased leaders early, weakened halfway, 15th of 18, 16l behind Talihoya (9-7) at Leopardstown 7f hcp 0-70 sft in Oct.
Casual Affair 7-1 (9-2) Prominent, keen, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 6l behind Dyanita (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Canina 33-1 (8-6) Prominent, weakened 2f out, last of 12, 10l behind Briannsta (9-2) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Gilded Cove 12-1 (8-4) Raced far side, soon outpaced, always behind, 14th of 17, 14l behind Wanchai Lad (9-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Joyeaux 12-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden halfway, stayed on well final furlong, 4th of 17, 1 1/2l behind How's She Cuttin' (8-12) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gs.
Piccostar 25-1 (9-3) Raced wide in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no headway, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Sweetest Revenge (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Royal Orissa 25-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, weakened 2f out, eased when beaten final furlong, last of 16, 9l behind Bold Argument (9-8) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Bond Playboy 5-2 (9-3) Outpaced, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 10, 8l behind La Colline (8-7) at Southwell 6f app hcp (6) fbs.
Sweet Pickle 6-4fav (9-4) Held up, headway to chase winner over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Windy Prospect (8-0) at Southwell 6f app hcp (6) fbs.
