chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, weakened entering final furlong
behind, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
held up, headway over 2f out, soon chasing winner, kept on same pace final furlong
led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, led over 2f out, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, under pressure over 2f out, soon eased
Most of these are upped in class including recent Yarmouth winner Harrovian and last month’s course winner Coolagh Forest. Johnny Drama needs to put a poor effort at Newbury behind him having finished ahead of Victory Command at York earlier. The latter’s stablemate Dark Vision has failed to threaten at this level and Forest Ranger has struggled since winning the Huxley in soft going at Chester back in May. Placed in a Listed race at Ayr last time, BIG COUNTRY hasn’t raced in a handicap since winning last year’s Zetland Gold Cup. He can race off a lower mark today with an apprentice’s allowance taken into account so Mick Appleby’s charge gets the vote.
Forest Ranger (IRE) 3-1 (9-10) Led until over 2f out, lost place approaching final furlong, last of 6, 3 3/4l behind Encapsulation (8-7) at Ayr 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Big Country (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Prominent, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Encapsulation (8-7) at Ayr 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Johnny Drama (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Soon tracking leaders, lost place over 1f out, 10th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Caradoc (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Dark Vision (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) In rear centre, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on, nearest finish, 6th of 30, 6 1/4l behind Lord North (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Victory Command (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 8f out, driven 3f out, well beaten final 2f, 9th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Caradoc (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Coolagh Forest (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Made all, hard driven when challenged from over 2f out, stayed on strongly towards finish, won at York 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Poet's Dawn (9-4) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Harrovian 2-1fav (9-6) Chased leaders, not much room on inside from over 2f out until squeezed through from just over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Sep beating Pactolus (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.