mid-division, behind and slightly outpaced 3f out, plugged on
hampered and bumped start, headway 2f out, weaved way through to lead 1f out, edged left and headed line
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened quickly
towards rear, effort over 1f out, stayed on
held up, headway on inside 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, faded final furlong
in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed and one pace
led early, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
went right start, soon with leaders, every chance over 1f out, weakened quickly
went left start, mid-division, headway on outside 2f out, ran on strongly under pressure to lead line
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance when weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
ELUSIVE DREAM, second over the course last time out is a tentative selection in what is a very moderate heat to get proceedings underway. Formerly trained by Derek Shaw, the selection was making his debut for Paul Howling and returning from a four month absence last time. Possibly slightly ring rusty he was uncharacteristically slowly away but came home with a real flourish. The drop back in trip should not overly inconvenience him. Dangers to the selection include recent course and distance winner Welcome Approach who was seen to take advantage of a plum draw and a sizeable drop in the weights to score over C&D last time. He now has the burden of stall 13 to overcome which is a negative with regard to his chances. Market support for Tugalu would make that of some interest, given the fact his drop in the weights makes him eligible now for this band of race. Billy Red has been contesting better handicaps to this and running creditably. Handicap debutant Casela Park and the recently returned Tarkamara, who interestingly Paul Cole has decided to remain loyal to are others worth keeping an eye on in the market but Elusive Dream is selected to land the opener.
Welcome Approach 15-2 (8-9) Prominent early, soon in mid-division, headway over 2f out, led well inside final furlong, edged right, driven out, won at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Aug beating Willhewiz (8-10) by a hd, 12 ran.
Elusive Dreams (USA) 8-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Sendreni (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcap (6) pol.
Tarkamara (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Started slowly, towards rear, lost touch quickly 2f out, soon eased, tailed off, last of 13, well behind The Gaikwar (9-0) at Brighton 1m app hcp (6) gd.
Musical Script (USA) 17-2 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Matterofact (9-5) at Brighton 5f hcap (6) sft.
Jun Fan (USA) 7-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, hard ridden halfway, soon no impression, 7th of 12, 7l behind Guto (8-8) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Aug.
Rainbow Bay 11-2 (8-10) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 6l behind Sunley Sovereign (8-6) at Hamilton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) sft.
Tugalu (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 5th of 10, 4l behind Chosen One (9-3) at Catterick 6f mdn stk (5) gd in Aug.
Pasta Prayer 13-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon beaten, 8th of 13, 9l behind Billberry (8-12) at Kempton 7f stk 0-55 (6) pol.
Casela Park (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, pulled hard, headway when not clear run approaching halfway, driven and kept on, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Al Gillani (9-3) at Great Leighs 6f mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Out of India 6-1 (8-9) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 3l behind By The Edge (8-12) at Beverley 5f fll hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Hollywood George 6-1 (8-13) Led to over 4f out, stayed prominent until ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 19l behind Stand In Flames (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Aug.
Billy Red 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Desert Opal (9-2) at Great Leighs 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Perlachy 16-1 (9-0) Soon chasing leader, ridden to lead well over 1f out, soon headed, no chance with winner and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Sendreni (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcap (6) pol.
