missed break, soon in touch, ridden and effort 2f out, no extra final furlong
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt, towards rear never dangerous
held up in touch, headway when not clear run over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on strongly final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden over 2f out
dwelt, mid-division, headway and effort 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
close up, led over 3f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
bumped start, towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f
in touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened 2f out
prominent, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
towards rear, soon pushed along, no danger
mid-division, weakened halfway
reared start, close up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway under pressure 1f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, weakened 2f out
The best of these on official ratings are Commanding (83), Falcon Hill (87), Cloud Dancer (75) and Queen Of Night (78), and we think the winner will come from this group, our preference being Commanding. A winner at Pontefract earlier in the year, the selection comes here on the back of a decent run at Ascot, and with his stable in good form. Falcon Hill has, sadly, lost his way this year after promising more at two, but drops to this grade for the first time and is a course winner. won a Newmarket handicap in June 2002, and a return to that level of form sees him competitive. Cloud Dancer and Queen Of The Night have a right to be considered, the latter coming here on the back of an all-weather win. Of the others, Kingston Town comes here on the back of a promising maiden run - his only outing to date; Killala hails from a stable in form and Kevin Darley has been booked; while the Jim Goldie pair of Lucayan Dancer and Earlston have place claims if on song; and Distant Country, from the Lynda Ramsden yard, has Jamie Spencer in the plate. Not an easy one to call but we could be in for a Commanding performance.