held up in rear, headway 3 out, led flat, ran on well
held up, outpaced before 4 out, stayed on 2 out, no impression last
mid-division, not much room 1st, headway after 7th, lost place 4 out
prominent, pushed along 4 out, one pace and no impression from 2 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, took keen hold, some headway 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
led until 3rd, prominent, driven after 4 out, lost place 2 out, weakened
mid-division, not fluent 5th, effort 4 out, no impression 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, hung left and lost place before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 4 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out, soon led, headed last, one pace flat
mid-division, headway after 7th, hit 4 out, soon lost place
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, ridden and struggling after next, behind 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led after 3 out, headed after next, edged right and led again last, headed and not pace of winner flat
held up towards rear, ridden and struggling before 4 out
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 4 out, mistake next, one pace next
prominent, led 3rd, headed after 3 out, no impression last
A typically-competitive renewal of this Grade 3 handicap. Second-season five and six-year-olds tend to dominate but while Sound Investment and Saffron Wells fall outside the ideal weight range both have each-way claims. However, this may be too far for August's Perth winner Court Minstrel and Starluck while it looks too short for The Tourard Man and The Liquidator hasn't had much racing over the last couple of years. Cousin Khee is on a hat-trick after victories at Stratford and Uttoxeter but this is a much tougher assignment off his new mark. EARTHMOVES made steady progress last season and remains open to further improvement. He's gone up another 3lb since his second at Taunton in the spring but ground and trip will suit and he can make a winning reappearance ahead of the equally-unexposed Rock The Kasbah and Carningli. Our Kaempfer may be the pick of the remainder ahead of Hurricane Hollow, who will have his stamina to prove, and Gassin Golf.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway 3 out, effort between last 2, stayed on strongly run in to lead post, won at Perth 2m hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Commissioned (11-10) by ns, 8 ran.
Sound Investment (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, went 2nd and ridden after 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead final 110 yards, edged left, held on towards finish, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Feb beating Bennys Mist (11-1) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
L'unique (FR) 10-1 (11-10) In touch on inside, riden after 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 13, dist behind The Govaness (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Tea For Two 18-1 (11-7) In touch in mid-division, hampered and lost a few places 6th, hit next, soon ridden, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Our Kaempfer (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, shaken up 2 out, no impression on front pair and one pace when left 3rd last, 3rd of 16, 13 1/2l behind Thistlecrack (11-4) at Aintree 3m (1) gs in Apr.
Gassin Golf 10-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, mistake 5th, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace from last, 5th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Cheltenian (10-13) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
The Tourard Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, hampered last, kept on same pace, 5th of 21, 13 3/4l behind Taglietelle (11-6) at Aintree 3m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Starluck (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Tracked winner, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Golden Jubilee (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (6) gs in Sep.
Carningli (IRE) 4-5fav (11-6) Raced keenly, made all, not fluent 3 out, hit next, pushed well clear before the last, easily, won at Stratford 2m 6f (4) gd in Apr beating Bells 'n' Banjos (11-6) by 22l, 5 ran.
The Liquidator 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along when mistake 5th and dropped to 5th, ridden 3 out, moderate 6th entering straight, kept on one paced from last, 4th of 8, 13 3/4l behind Faugheen (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Hurricane Hollow 11-2fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, no extra last, 8th of 17, 10 3/4l behind Gran Maestro (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
Saffron Wells (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure run-in, went never nearer 4th run-in, almost snatched 3rd, 4th of 17, 9 3/4l behind Theinval (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Earthmoves (FR) Evensfav (11-11) Held up in touch, mistake 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Sporting Boy (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) Towards rear, weakened quickly and pulled up 4 out, at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Cousin Khee 4-6fav (12-4) Held up in touch in rear, effort when not fluent 3 out, led next, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating While You Wait (11-8) by 7l, 6 ran.
Mantou (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, closed 6th, went 2nd before last (normal 2 out), led final 75 yards, strongly pressed, headed on nod post, 2nd of 8, shd behind Low Key (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Rons Dream 9-2 (11-2) Held up, headway tracking leaders 3rd, 4th before 3 out, kept on same pace next, 4th of 8, 9l behind Jennys Melody (11-5) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
