tracked leaders, ridden to lead entering final furlong, driven out
slowly away, ridden and headway 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden 1f out, soon weakened
with leader, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
led, headed final furlong, soon weakened
Kevin Ryan's Breathless Kiss is lightly raced and has to be respected but she has yet to confirm that she stays six furlongs so may be best watched and it may be worth taking a chance with the reappearing IRON VELVET, who gets the verdict from Novay Essjay. Conor Dore's gelding came good when successful in a Southwell claimer earlier this month and he has claims back in a handicap off a mark of 71 but is probably better on the Fibresand than the Polytrack so may be best left out of calculations. Clive Brittain's runners have been in good form so Niran has to be considered but he was very disappointing here last time and is hard to recommend, while Tom Dascombe's Quaestor gave little sign for encouragement on his reappearance. Bill Turner's Dusty Spirit made a pleasing return at Kempton recently and he has to be considered but preference is for Iron Velvet. Mark Johnston's colt lacks a recent run but that should not be a problem with the yard's runners in good form and he looks worth chancing off what seems an attractive mark.
Niran (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, under pressure halfway, soon beaten, 9th of 11, 9l behind Edinburgh Knight (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Breathless Kiss (USA) 9-1 (8-10) Awkward start, soon prominent, ridden and hung right over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Love Delta (9-7) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Quaestor (IRE) 7-4fav (9-1) Keen soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 11l behind Dominium (9-1) at Kempton 6f mdn auc stks (5) pol.
Iron Velvet (USA) 4-1fav (9-2) Soon led, headed 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong no impression, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Tominator (9-4) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Dusty Spirit 25-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Jarrow (9-5) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Novay Essjay (IRE) 11-4 (8-5) Made most, ridden 2f out, joined and headed briefly inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Southwell 6f clm stks 0-70 (6) fbs beating Punching (9-7) by shd, 7 ran.