made most, joined over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong
tracked winner over 7f out, joined winner going well over 3f out, ridden and found nil over 2f out, carried head high and kept on one pace final furlong
dwelt, in touch, progress over 3f out, effort to press leading pair 2f out, one pace and lost 3rd inside final furlong
prominent, lost place over 7f out, never a danger after
in rear, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out, soon eased
pulled hard early, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong, never dangerous
The 70-rated pair of Ancient Greece and MERCOLIANO look set to dominate here and it is the last-named who gets the nod; Fasette looks the best of the rest. Marco Botti's gelding was always in command at Salisbury last month when winning a similar race to this one. That was his first foray into claiming grade and this unexposed gelding is taken to gain a third career success. He's probably in this grade because his official rating of 75 is a tad high, and if that is true then a strong case can be made for Ancient Greece. This 73-rated son of Pivotal is fitted with a tongue-time for the first time and should fare better now dropped in trip and grade. Daneside and River Tease are both unexposed and neither has shown too much to get excited about, however the latter's recent Leicester run was a step in the right direction. Of more interest is Fasette who is rated better than her Leicester flop in June. This course winner has been given plenty of time to get over that experience and she should make a late dash for glory. Sternian is another to consider given the three-year-old filly gets plenty of weight and a bold bid would come as no surprise as she drops in grade following a poor run here last time, however we are happy to plump for Mercoliano.
Ancient Greece 10-1 (9-7) Short of room leaving stalls, always in rear, last of 7, 20l behind Mme De Stael (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jul.
Mercoliano 4-1 (8-2) Soon led, headed over 6f out, tracked leader, led again over 3f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, won at Salisbury 1m clm stks (5) gf in Jul beating Calypso Star (8-10) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Daneside (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Slowly away, held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 3f out, outpaced and no impression from well over 1f out, 5th of 7, 10l behind Sternian (8-9) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo sll (6) gs in Jul.
River Tease 33-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 2l behind Angelena Ballerina (8-6) at Leicester 1m 3yo sll (6) gf in Jul.
Fasette 11-4fav (8-7) In rear, wide and ridden 3f out, no impression, 8th of 11, 20l behind Dane Cottage (8-12) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo sll (6) gf in Jun.
Sternian 20-1 (9-3) Led, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 15l behind Seattle Speight (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jul.
