taken to post early, tracked leader, led 3f out, soon headed, ridden to press winner until no extra near finish
held up in touch, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on to 3rd 1f out, not pace to challenge
steadied start, held up in touch in rear, headway on outer entering final 3f, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed 3f out, rallied inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
close up, led over 2f out, ridden and soon pressed until asserted near finish
Between Us won here and at Brighton last month but tried to run out over a longer trip at Haydock 10 days ago and is probably best watched today. Willie Wag Tail is interesting as he's run really well since being stepped up in trip and was on the heels of the principals in a hot handicap at York last month when Expert Fighter finished well behind. It will be a surprise if Assizes doesn't find a race before the end of the season but Stature seems to be in the handicapper's grip at present and Daghash needs to improve on his form so far to get involved. Fleeting Image beat MARIA'S CHOICE by a length over 1m4f at Newmarket last time but the less-exposed runner-up is 3lb better off here and entitled to reverse that form. He could be the one in an open-looking handicap.
Stature (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Pulled hard in mid-division, weakened over 3f out, 16th of 19, 15l behind Ahzeemah (9-2) at Ascot 1m 4f Handicap (Heritage) (3yo) (2) gf.
Willie Wag Tail (USA) 9-2fav (8-8) Held up towards rear, headway and drifted left over 2f out, close 3rd when badly hampered over 1f out, not able to challenge after, edged left well inside final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 19, 1 1/2l behind Kirthill (10-0) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Expert Fighter (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Prominent, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakening when not much room inside final furlong, 13th of 19, 15l behind Kirthill (10-0) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Assizes 11-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Roxy Flyer (9-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Maria's Choice (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd final strides, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Fleeting Image (8-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Daghash 9-1 (8-7) In touch, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 8, 5l behind Universal (9-10) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd.
Fleeting Image 22-1 (8-3) Keen made all, clear over 8f out, reduced lead over 4f out, jinked left approaching 2f out, edged right and left inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug beating Maria's Choice (9-1) by 1l, 7 ran.
Between Us 11-2 (8-12) Led until hung violently right on bend after 2f, rider soon lost irons and became unridable, took no part after, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Courtesy Call (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f 3yo hcp (3) fm.
