chased leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, led over 7f out, ridden and headed over 5f out, weakened over 1f out
led for 2f, chased leader, ridden and behind from 5f out
steadied start, held up in rear, headway on outer over 4f out, led on 2f out, ridden and headed just inside final furlong, one pace
held up in touch and keen, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, led just inside final furlong, kept on well
held up, headway over 6f out, weakened over 2f out, soon eased
led after 2f, headed over 7f out, ridden and weakened over 4f out
Not a particularly strong handicap and Atlantic Coast can follow up his recent Hamilton success, with Turn Of Phrase another leading player and both Advancement and Raffish having claims. The selection stepped up to 1m 5f well when winning north of the border last time on good to soft, when blinkers worked the oracle. The hoods stay on tonight, which should help and a repeat of that sort of effort should be good enough from a nice racing weight, provided he handles even more cut. Turn of Phrase is in superb form, winning his last two starts at Catterick and Pontefract. He handles cut well but is now 13lb higher than the first of those wins and this will be tough. Advancement only just got touched off on heavy ground at Beverley last time, so conditions are not an issue, though stamina over this 12f certainly is. Michael Scudamore saddles Raffish, who loves the mud and should stay all evening, so he must be on short lists, while the ground should account for both Ja Myford and Sporting Gesture and Atlantic Coast can plough through a sea of mud to score.
Turn Of Phrase (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead final furlong, soon hung left and clear, won at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd beating Don'tcallmeginger (8-3) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Advancement 14-1 (9-2) Always prominent, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Royal Flynn (9-7) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy.
Fenners (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 19l behind Artless (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcap (5) gd.
Red Wine 20-1 (9-13) Held up, lost place and hampered after 1f, effort and switched right final furlong, 8th of 14, 6l behind Pothos Way (9-11) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jun.
Raffish 13-2 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, chased winner 2f out, no impression, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Winged d'Argent (11-5) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcap (4) sft.
Qaasi (USA) 5-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, smooth headway to challenge 2f out, soon ridden, found nil, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Atlantic Coast (8-0) at Hamilton 1m 5f hcap (5) gs.
Atlantic Coast (IRE) 18-1 (8-0) Towards rear, reminders after 2f, badly outpaced over 4f out, good headway from over 1f out to lead inside final furlong, drew clear close home, won at Hamilton 1m 5f hcap (5) gs beating Balakar (9-0) by 4l, 8 ran.
Sporting Gesture 6-1 (8-8) Held up, pushed along over 5f out, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Charlotte Vale (8-3) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jun.
Ja Myford 10-1 (9-3) Towards rear, headway over 5f out, never reached challenging position, 9th of 17, 34l behind Kentucky Boy (8-11) at Beverley 2m 3yo mdn hcp (6) sft.
