tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and hung right on bend over 1f out, soon headed and weakened
always in rear, finished lame
held up and keen, headway 2f out, led briefly 1f out, no extra
reared start, headway on outside over 2f out, hampered on bend over 1f out, switched left and hampered again approaching final furlong, not recover
mid-division, headway over 2f out, hampered on bend over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, carried right on bend over 1f out, kept on
mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway on inside well over 1f out, carried right on bend over 1f out, led inside final furlong
led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, led again over 1f out, weakening and headed soon after
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, effort and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, ridden and weakened 2f out
dwelt, headway on inside and bumped on bend over 1f out, hung left 1f out, ran on
mid-division, ridden 4f out, headway over 2f out, soon held
Picador is the obvious choice here and we will back him to complete a hat-trick at the main expense of The City Kid, Buscador and Scamperdale. The Sir Mark Prescott-trained selection still looks well ahead of the handicapper despite a 7lb penalty that he has to shoulder here. Back to back wins over a mile at both here and Southwell show he is in great form and as so often happens his trainer's skill and placement looks likely to yield a string of successes before the assessor finally gets to grips with the gelding, so we will not oppose. The City Kid is no back number here and is in good form at present. However, although he should give his running unless there is a problem with the favourite he should not pick up win prize money for at least one more run. Buscador enjoys it here and has claims to some prize money on recent form, though he is exposed and may have to settle for the frame again, while Scamperdale had his limitations exposed last time and in the context of this race looks to be one of a number fighting to be second best to Picador, who is our idea of the winner.
Picador 8-11fav (9-5) Prominent, led after 3f, shaken up and clear over 1f out, comfortably, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) std beating Roman Boy (8-9) by 5l, 12 ran.
Richelieu 25-1 (9-2) Held up, driven along over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 5l behind Shade Cozy (9-2) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Volaticus (IRE) (9-6) 3rd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Lisselan Rose (9-3) at Mijas 1m1f stk std in Aug.
Scamperdale 7-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, not clear run over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on, 4th of 13, 3/4l behind Harare (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Buscador (USA) 12-1 (8-7) Prominent, led over 4f out, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out and weakened, 7th of 12, 5l behind Pop Music (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Golden Spectrum (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Picador (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Second Reef 22-1 (8-12) Held up, headway to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Kilimandscharo (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
The City Kid (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, kept on well, just failed, 2nd of 13, hd behind Harare (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
