chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
prominent, led over 2f out, hung right under pressure over 1f out, stayed on well closing stages
steadied in rear, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, stayed on under pressure to lead well inside final furlong, all out
led until over 2f out, soon rallied, held when short of room over 1f out
held up in rear, weakened over 3f out
chased leaders, every chance when hung left from over 1f out, not run on
prominent, ridden and weakened before halfway
Speciality thrives on fast ground so connections wouldn't want any rain as she bids for her hat-trick. This might be too competitive for course specialist Jonnie Skull but Desert Ranger won over 7f here last month and is only a pound higher. PLEASURE BENT didn't really respond to the blinkers at Windsor in June but is a couple of pounds lower than when third on the Polytrack earlier and a repeat of that effort would put him in the firing-line here. Afkar often runs well here but his losing streak now stretches back two years.
Mezmaar 50-1 (9-11) In touch, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 6, 7l behind Crystal Lake (9-6) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Pleasure Bent 4-1 (9-6) Took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Unison (8-6) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun.
Specialty (IRE) 3-1 (9-6) Raced far side, overall leader until hung right and headed over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, led near finish, won at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul beating Athletic (9-6) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Desert Ranger (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Taken to post early, dwelt, close up in rear, ridden over 2f out, went 4th over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 4th of 6, 6l behind Mr McLaren (9-6) at Thirsk 7f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Afkar (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 9l behind Kakatosi (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Sabre Rock 33-1 (9-6) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 17l behind Cathedral (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Pactolus (IRE) 11-1 (8-10) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Baltic Brave (9-1) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Jonnie Skull (IRE) 9-4fav (9-9) Led narrowly, headed 4f out, in touch, lost place 2f out, soon behind, last of 6, 13l behind Rouge Nuage (9-10) at Yarmouth 1m app hcp (6) gf.