held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened entering final 2f
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression
always in rear
chased winner until 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace
made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
bumped start, held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression
chased leaders, hung left and weakened over 2f out
pulled hard in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on never nearer
held up in touch, ridden and headway to chase winner 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
WEST END LAD has held his form well this term and gets the nod over Poppets Sweetlove and Paradise Island. The last named is open to more improvement than most and she looks worth another try over this trip. Quite whether she can make all the running in this company is debatable, though. So a careful monitoring of the betting is advised before siding with Ed Dunlop's charge. Poppets Sweetlove is also suited by seven furlongs and loves this course to boot. However, she does need to banish the memory of a poor effort last time out - even though she may have not really seen out the mile. Therefore, it can pay to stick with an in-form contender, with West End Lad making the most appeal on this occasion. The five-year-old has a proven heart for a battle and, in Royston Ffrench he has the ideal partner to drive him home.
Poppets Sweetlove 4-1fav (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and struggling final 3f, last of 11, 17l behind Sofia's Star (8-11) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Valentino Swing (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, switched right just over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 10, 6l behind Imperial Lucky (9-3) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
West End Lad 9-2jt-fav (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 5l behind Jonny Lesters Hair (8-13) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Sept.
Avoca Dancer (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon pushed along in rear, headway on inside 2f out, went 2nd briefly entering final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Al Gillani (9-7) at Kempton 6f hcap (6) pol in Sept.
Registrar 33-1 (8-3) Raced centre, held up, never troubled leaders, 13th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Fantasy Explorer (9-3) at Newmarket 6f hcap (4) gf in Sept.
Mansii 33-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, ridden 4f out, soon beaten, 13th of 14, 21l behind Hucking Heat (10-7) at Nottingham 1m 2f amt hcp 0-80 (5) gs.
Avontuur (FR) 14-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, in touch far side group, led briefly inside final furlong in that group, one pace, 7th of 17, 3l behind Lap of Honour (8-13) at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy.
Sarah Park (IRE) 11-4fav (8-11) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 6, 2l behind Oriental Girl (8-10) at Bath 1m 3yo hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Cavalry Guard (USA) 33-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened and eased, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Paraguay (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcap (5) sft in May.
Paradise Island (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, one paced, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Croeso Cusan (7-13) at Brighton 1m hcap (6) sft in Sept.
Royal Sovereign (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, ridden inside final furlong, no extra near finish, 5th of 13, 4l behind I Confess (8-7) at Lingfield 7f 3yo sll (6) pol.
Second Opinion (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, weakend approaching final furlong, 5th of 12, 13l behind Sirocco Breeze (9-3) at Leicester 7f 3yo mdn (5) sft.
Avoncreek 40-1 (8-6) Behind, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 16, 9l behind Music Box Express (8-8) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Sept.
Melt (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Soon mid-division, lost place over 2f out, 11th of 13, 11l behind Hurricane Harriet (9-2) at Leicester 6f fll hcp (5) sft.
L'Art du Silence (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Always in rear, last of 12, well behind Mr Fantozzi (9-0) at Southwell 1m 3yo hcp (6) fbs in Jul.
Barataria 8-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride and behind, switched outside over 2f out, soon outpaced, never dangerous, 11th of 14, 7l behind Shunkawakhan (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m app hcp (6) gd in Aug.
