in touch, ridden over 3f out, kept on to chase clear winner over 1f out
held up and keen, headway over 2f out, stayed on
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
never a factor
always well behind
in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace
towards rear, headway 3f out, chased leaders, one pace
tracked leaders and took keen hold, led over 2f out, soon clear
led, ridden when headed 3f out, weakened
with leader, led briefly 3f out, ridden over 2f out and weakened final furlong
towards rear, stayed on final 2f
towards rear, effort on inside 2f out, not clear run approaching 1f out, one pace
A wide oepn handicap here and many would have chances on their best form but Alpine Reel is the selection with the principals looking to be Zato and Montpellier. The selection was a good second behind Country Escape last time out, enters handicaps off what looks a fair mark and from a good draw looks a value bet in an open affair. Zato rates the main danger as he won well last time when defeating Cross The Line. However this looks more competitive and he looks vulnerable under his penalty. Montpellier is another that could go well as he won a maiden in good style last time out when beating Melpomene but he looks high enough in the weights for what he has actually achived. El Coto has dropped to a handy mark and with the booking of Robert Winston catching the eye he should be watched in the market. Of the remainder Cross My Mind looks weighted up to his best and for the winner we return to the unexposed Alpine Reel.
Zato (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) In touch on outside, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-90 (3) pol beating Cross The Line (9-5) by a nk, 12 ran.
El Coto 10-1 (9-6) Held up in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 8l behind Krugerrand (8-13) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Montpellier (IRE) 4-6fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, led on bit inside final furlong, hard held, won at Hamilton 1m 1f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gs in Sept beating Melpomene (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Aunty Euro (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, weakened straight, last of 9, 13l behind Race For The Stars (8-12) at Gowran Park 1m 1f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Cross My Mind 11-2fav (8-7) Raced centre, held up, headway over 2f out, kept on well, 9th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Rain Stops Play (8-7) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
Ballinteni 5-1 (9-6) Mid-division, lost place over 3f out, beaten when hung left over 1f out, 7th of 11, 8l behind Country Escape (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Alpine Reel (IRE) 4-1fav (8-10) Chased leader, ridden over 1f out, every chance final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Country Escape (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Del Mar Sunset 20-1 (8-13) Always in rear, pushed along over 3f out, 9th of 10, 15l behind Descartes (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (3) pol.
