tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, weakened and eased inside final furlong
close up, pushed along 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
dwelt, in touch in rear, pushed along over 2f out, never a factor
keen prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
dwelt, in touch, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on to go 2nd close home
prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace and lost 2nd close home
Ed Walker has won this for the past two years and PRIMO BACIO (NAP) can make it a stable hat-trick after an excellent run in the Group 2 Hungerford at Newbury. Gale Force Maya has won two strong course and distance handicaps this summer and finished runner-up to Princess Shabnam at this level at Pontefract last time. Ebro River gave the latter 5lb and a beating at Chester, with Ventura Diamond close behind in third, so should get into the frame though Irish raider Prisoner's Dilemma is top rated and was runner-up at this level at the Curragh in June.
Blackrod 16-5fav (9-2) Prominent far side, ridden 2f out, gradually weakened 1f out, 11th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Intrinsic Bond (8-7) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Judicial (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, headway to press leader inside last, edged right and ran on, always held, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Manaccan (9-10) at Ascot 5f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Lampang (IRE) 28-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Summerghand (9-0) at York 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Prisoner's Dilemma 3-1fav (10-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, travelling well from 2f out, 2nd and challenged 1f out, led final 150 yards and quickly went clear, pushed out and kept on well, readily, won at Curragh 6f hcp gd in Aug beating Sister Rosetta (8-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pure Dreamer 85-40fav (9-9) Dwelt in touch in rear, headway approaching final furlong, switched right inside final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead towards finish, won at Newmarket 6f hcp (3) gf in Jul beating Bergerac (9-7) by 1l, 7 ran.
Gale Force Maya 3-1 (9-4) Prominent on outside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, kept on but no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Princess Shabnam (9-0) at Pontefract 6f lst fll stks (1) gf in Aug.
Primo Bacio (IRE) 22-1 (9-5) Keen, in touch, pushed along 2f out with every chance, ridden along and disputing lead 1f out, not pace of winner close home, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Jumby (9-8) at Newbury 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Ventura Diamond (IRE) 5-2jfav (9-0) In touch, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Ebro River (9-0) at Chester 6f lst stks (1) gs in Jul.
Ebro River (IRE) 5-2jfav (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along and switched right to chase leader over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chester 6f lst stks (1) gs in Jul beating Princess Shabnam (8-9) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
