led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, stayed on to chase winner final furlong
tracked leaders, smooth headway over 2f out, edged left and led well over 1f out, ridden and kept on final furlong
chased leaders, headway to challenge when not much room well over 1f out, switched right, ridden and kept on final furlong, not reach leaders
held up and behind, driven and outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure final furlong, no impression
with leader to over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride and behind, effort 3f out, soon ridden and no impression
Alchemist Master gets the confident vote in this claimer with What-A-Dancer and Yakimov rated as the most likely dangers. The selection has had his problems and has reportedly been slow to come to hand this season. However, he has now found his form and he won a handicap well last time at Haydock when beating Pure Imagination. It therefore would be foolish to desert him in his current form with conditions once again to suit today. What-A-Dancer changed his legs throughout at Epsom last time so under the circumstances he did well to finish fourth behind Lizarazu. His previous effort at Chepstow had been disappointing but he is always worth a look in this grade and he is not one to dismiss lightly. Yakimov was returning from a year off the track when a good second over a mile behind Banknote last time. He did have the race run to suit that day but if he doesn't bounce he could be capable of going close. Kevin Ryan's Mystic Man looks the best of the rest but Alchemist Master has hit form and looks the one to be with today.
Yakimov (USA) 40-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden to lead and edged right 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Banknote (8-2) at Haydock 1m hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Mystic Man (FR) 14-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden to disupte lead over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 15, 4l behind Hartshead (9-9) at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Alchemist Master 11-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, ran on, won at Haydock 7f hcp (5) gf beating Pure Imagination (9-3) by 2l, 10 ran.
What-A-Dancer (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders but no impression, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Lizarazu (8-12) at Epsom 7f clm (5) gf.
Splodger Mac (IRE) 20-1 (8-0) In touch, effort over 2f out, soon behind, last of 8, 19l behind Saxon Lil (8-11) at Beverley 7f hcp (4) gd.
Shinko Femme (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Slow into stride, soon tracking leaders, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 16, 16l behind Stevedore (9-7) at Nottingham 1m 3yo & 4yo sll (6) gf.
