keen, held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
made all, ridden and ran on final furlong
tracked winner, ridden and every chance over 2f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden 6f out, driven over 4f out, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, held up, headway to go prominent 12f out, ridden over 5f out, outpaced over 2f out, kept on again inside final furlong
pulled hard, held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen in touch, ridden and kept on one pace final 2f
reared start, slowly away, held up in last place, pushed along over 4f out, headway and switched right approaching final furlong, ran on not reach leaders
Highland Games is bound to be popular with backers having twice found just one too good in his last three starts but Luca Cumani's gelding is getting no respite from the handicapper and preference is for Inchpast, who gets the vote ahead of Garden Society. The selection seemed to stay this trip well enough at Chester last time on only his second start over the trip and the Mark Tompkins-trained four-year-old may well be ridden with more confidence, in the knowledge that he stays, today. Serbelloni is now only 1lb higher than when beating Garden Society a head at Wolverhampton in March and has to be respected at the weights but his recent form is of concern. Escayola has claims on the pick of his form but cannot be backed with confidence given his current form, while Malarkey and Turn 'n Burn probably need more help from the handicapper and a safer bet looks to be Inchpast, who gets the vote.
Escayola (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Always behind, 10th of 15, 23l behind Inchnadamph (8-12) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Garden Society (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Not clear run over 2f out, always behind, last of 8, 6l behind Jagger (9-7) at Chester 1m 5f lst hcp (1) gf in Aug.
Highland Games (IRE) 15-2 (9-13) In touch, smooth headway to track leaders over 3f out, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, edged left but kept on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Numero Due (8-5) at Thirsk 2m hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Inchpast 5-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden over 4f out, headway over 1f out, ran on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1l behind My Immortal (9-2) at Chester 2m hcp (4) gf in Aug.
High Point (IRE) 22-1 (8-0) Held up rear, never a factor, 10th of 13, 12l behind High Action (9-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Jul.
Serbelloni 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 10l behind Wing Collar (10-0) at York 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Malarkey 6-1 (9-12) Started slowly, always behind, 6th of 9, 17l behind Desert Island Disc (8-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (5) gf.
Turn 'n Burn 8-1 (9-2) Held up, steady headway from over 3f out, to chase leaders over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Inchpast (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Jun.