in touch, lost place 7f out, behind final 3f
in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace, switched right and kept on final furlong
always in rear
tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, faded final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
mid-division, ridden 5f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 1f out, one pace final furlong
steadied start, keen hold in rear, shaken up and switched right 2f out, headway on outside to lead well inside final furlong, ran on
In a tricky race, Thyolo is selected ahead of Our Teddy and Top Seed. Now rated four pounds above his June Newmarket winning rating, Our Teddy has to come under consideration here. Much as he has not won since his juvenile days, Thyolo has to be respected at this level, while course and distance winner Top Seed is not far above a winning rating now and he too has to be respected. Dahman is a potential improver form the Godolphin operation, and Mandatum's narrow defeat at Haydock from today's rating gives him claims to. Faringdon was disappointing on his handicap debut last time, while Skidmark lacks recent form. Sky Quest has surely now dropped to a competitive mark, and his stable's horses are running well, and Candle has enough about his lightly-raced profile to suggest that he ought to be considered. Finally, Love Always' form may have been boosted, or otherwise, at Haydock on Thursday by Leslingtaylor, but Boot 'n Toot races from out of the weights, so others are preferred. Chief among these is Thyolo, who gets the vote.
Our Teddy (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Held up, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 7th of 14, 3l behind Rationale (9-5) at Bath 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Dahman 5-2 (8-10) Held up, chased along over 4f out, soon beaten and eased over 1f out, last of 6, well behind Ceiriog Valley (8-1) at Ripon 1m 4f 3yo hcp (3) gs in Aug '05.
Mandatum 3-1fav (10-0) Chased winner, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, nk behind Oddsmaker (9-4) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
Farringdon 3-1 (9-6) Held up, switched centre and outpaced 4f out, hung right over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Rationale (8-7) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Sky Quest (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 9, 6l behind Fear To Tread (9-3) at Warwick 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug.
Candle 10-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Trick Or Treat (9-1) at Salisbury 1m 4f fll hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Love Always 6-1 (9-6) Held up mid-division, headway and edged left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Leslingtaylor (8-7) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Boot 'n Toot 9-1 (9-0) Chased leader, hard ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 11, 10l behind Ariodante (8-6) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Aug.
