took keen hold, tracked leader 4f, stayed prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed 1f out, always held final furlong
tracked leader after 4f, weakened over 5f out, tailed off over 3f out
steadied start, towards rear, headway 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, lost place and in rear halfway, tailed off over 3f out
tracked leaders, led halfway, headed over 2f out, kept on one pace final 2f
started slowly, behind, headway over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, kept on pace, never nearer
in touch, chased leader 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on well final furlong, ridden out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, outpaced and lost place, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach leaders
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, kept on
led to halfway, lost place over 6f out and weakened quickly, tailed off
held up in rear, moderate headway over 3f out, never nearer
Spanish Conquest can make it back-to-back wins here at the main expense of Squirtle and Moonshine Beach. Sir Mark Prescott has his string in good form at present and Spanish Conquest won well last time at Southwell. This step-up in trip should play to his strengths and he can continue his progress by winning this. Squirtle is in good form but her penalty for her most recent success might just find her out today; on the plus side she has got proven form over this trip. Moonshine Beach did win over this trip at Kempton back in June, but he doesn't win very often these days and he can only be backed with limited confidence. Swords would have claims on the pick of his form, but he hasn't scored for nearly two years and a safer bet looks to be Spanish Conquest who looks to be on an upward curve right now.
Spanish Conquest 11-4fav (9-0) Held up in rear, headway over 5f out, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Victory Quest (9-7) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Rule For Ever 20-1 (9-7) Raced wide, held up, some headway 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 14, 17l behind Spanish Conquest (9-0) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
King's Fable (USA) 14-1 (8-3) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 12l behind Hawridge King (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Historic Place (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Mid-division, improved on outer 6f out, kept on one pace final 2f, 5th of 14, 10l behind Spanish Conquest (9-0) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Moonshine Beach 11-4 (9-2) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, hampered when weakening entering final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind Zeloso (8-9) at Beverley 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Squirtle (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (8-6) Slowly into stride, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol beating Capistrano (8-7) by 1l, 12 ran.
Swords 10-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway 5f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 8l behind Squirtle (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Bobsleigh 16-1 (8-2) Tracked leader, ridden and lost place 3f out, headway and every chance approaching final furlong, weakened, 6th of 12, 5l behind Squirtle (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Chiff Chaff 12-1 (8-8) Took keen hold, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Trigger's Friend (8-6) at Folkestone 2m hcp 0-60 (6) sft.
Bold Trump 16-1 (9-4) Always in rear, last of 13, well behind Red River Rock (9-4) at Southwell 1m 6f Stks (41-45) (7) fbs in Jan '07.
Makai 16-1 (8-1) In rear, short of room on rail over 4f out, slightly hampered, ridden over 3f out, outpaced and weakened 2f out, 7th of 10, 6l behind Trysting Grove (8-7) at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp (6) gf.
