always towards rear, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, effort when not clear run approaching 2f out, weakened and eased inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
close up, chased leader and every chance over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up, headway from over 2f out, short of room and bumped over 1f out, soon switched left, not a danger after
in touch, ridden halfway, effort and hung right over 1f out, one pace final furlong
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong
dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden halfway, headway over 2f out, edged right and stayed on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ran on
in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous
in rear, behind over 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
keen, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden halfway, never a factor
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged right and chased winner approaching final furlong, no impression inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened approaching 2f out, soon hung right
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
Something of a cavalry charge down the chute and MEDICEAN MAN is the call with Grazeon Gold Blend and Legal Legacy as the alternatives. Jeremy Gask's gelding appreciates genuinely good ground and having stayed on well at Ripon to post victory over six furlongs, we are hopeful that he can handle the extra distance today. Grazeon Gold Blend has the services of 7lb claimer, Ian Brennan. His second in a Beverley claimer represented a step in the right direction. Michael Dods broke his long standing duck with his York entries so Legal Legacy and Kiwi Bay are watched closely in the market. Malcheek has gradually come down to a winning mark so expect him to make a bold bid to follow up his Musselburgh success. Balata will be making late gains as he did when obliging in a Folkestone handicap. Bond City ran much better than his finishing position suggests in the Ayr Bronze Cup and this locally trained runner makes plenty of appeal from an each-way perspective. Handsome Falcon gained an overdue success at Wolverhampton having gone close repeatedly on the turf this season. Former Richard Hannon inmate, Silver Rime, ran his best race to date for new connections and is best of the rest. Cogent cases can be made for many but we believe that Medicean Man is still open to progression.
White Deer (USA) 7-1 (7-13) Held up, never dangerous, 11th of 13, 16l behind Collateral Damage (7-12) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) gf.
Silver Rime (FR) 11-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway going well inside final 3f, not clear run from over 1f out, until switched left entering final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Collateral Damage (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.
Turn Me On (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway towards inside and ran on inside final furlong, not reached leaders, 6th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Farleigh House (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Hail Promenader (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Tracked winner throughout, effort and every chance 2f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Sir Isaac (9-1) at Sandown 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
Bond City (IRE) 50-1 (9-8) Held up stands side group, headway 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 11th of 24, 3 1/2l behind Baldemar (9-5) at Ayr 6f hcap (2) gd in Sep.
Kiwi Bay 9-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, not clear run when going well from 2f out until headway, squeezed through 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sep beating Turn Me On (9-8) by nk, 12 ran.
Handsome Falcon 5-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led final 50 yards, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Tamasou (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Ezdeyaad (USA) 12-1 (8-9) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, came centre and led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Mull Of Killough (9-1) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sep.
Medicean Man 17-2 (9-0) Held up far side, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug beating Bajan Tryst (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Felday 8-1 (9-4) Mid-division stands side group, led that group 1f out, kept on, no chance with far side group, 9th of 24, 2l behind Baldemar (9-5) at Ayr 6f hcap (2) gd in Sep.
South Cape 9-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 8l behind Kaolak (10-0) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 25-1 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 9l behind Without Prejudice (9-3) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jul.
Legal Legacy 6-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Seek N' Destroy (9-5) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Knavesmire (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) With leaders, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 11, 12l behind Jeninsky (9-6) at Doncaster 7f flls hcp 0-130 (3) gs in Jul.
Grazeon Gold Blend 11-4 (9-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner final furlong, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Royal Dignitary (9-10) at Beverley 7f clm stks (5) fm in Aug.
Balata 6-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, pushed along halfway, headway towards outside inside final 2f, chased leaders final furlong, ran on to lead closing stages, won at Folkestone 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep beating Kaabari (9-2) by shd, 7 ran.
Malcheek (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Always prominent, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sep beating Sea Salt (8-9) by 5l, 10 ran.
Cara's Request (AUS) 11-1 (9-4) Led 2f, pressed leader, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 16, 3l behind Sarah's Art (8-7) at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Kashimin (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, hampered and lost place well over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 4l behind Brunelleschi (8-9) at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Thousand Miles (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 7l behind Faithful Ruler (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.