mid-division, effort over 4f, soon lost place and beaten
mid-division, headway over 3f, hampered when not much room 2f out, and again over 1f, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, some late headway, never troubled leaders
in touch, led after 6f, headed 6f out, remained in touch until weakened over 2f
prominent, ridden along when outpaced 4f out, driven over 1f, ran on final furlong
held up, headway on outer over 3f, weakened well over 1f
prominent, driven 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
never better than mid-division
in touch, ridden along over 3f out, weakened final furlong
led, headed after 6f, regained lead 6f out, driven over 1f, kept on gamely
prominent, effort over 3f, soon beaten
towards rear, headway when not much room over 2f, kept on final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 2f, driven to challenge and every chance approaching final furlong, edged left and kept on same pace
A competitive handicap to open the card and from a shortlist of Always Bold, Double Banded and Times Vital we will side with TIMES VITAL. The selection won well last time out when he beat Howdigo. He has his ideal ground conditions, he is on an upward curve and he should be suited by this step-up in trip so he makes plenty of appeal. Always Bold won on soft ground at Hamilton last time, he is proven over this trip and he is versatile with regards to the ground. The stable are in good form so he has to be respected, but his 6lbs penalty will make life tougher for him. Double Banded would have claims on the pick of his form, and although this is slightly easier than some of his recent assignments, he has been a bit disappointing of late. Greenwich Meantime is a course and distance winner and he could go well at a price, while Crete is proving hard to win with, but he ran a solid race in defeat last time. A tough start to the day for punters but the vote is given to Times Vital.
Mikado 50-1 (9-13) Towards rear, ridden along halfway, never dangerous, 9th of 16, 24l behind The Betchworth Kid (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcap (2) sft.
Double Banded (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Held up, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 12l behind Fiulin (8-10) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcap (2) gd.
Greenwich Meantime 12-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, chased leader 9f out until 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 7, 21l behind Askar Tau (9-2) at Great Leighs 2m hcap (2) pol.
Hernando Royal 9-1 (9-6) In touch, ridden to challenge over 3f out, weakend over 2f out, 8th of 15, 10l behind Malt Or Mash (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Oct.
Jagger 14-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 11, 5l behind Fiulin (8-10) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcap (2) gd.
Bajan Parkes 20-1 (9-4) With leaders, led 6f out, headed 4f out, soon outpaced, ridden and weakened 2f out, 13th of 18, 21l behind Closertobelieving (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 2f stk 0-85 (3) sft.
Dzesmin (POL) 18-1 (9-3) Prominent, driven 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 16, 7l behind The Betchworth Kid (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcap (2) sft.
Souffleur 7-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 3f out, weakened entering final furlong, 4th of 7, 8l behind Hits Only Vic (10-0) at Haydock 1m 6f hcap (4) hvy.
Always Bold (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, all out, won at Hamilton 1m 5f hcap (3) sft beating Acropolis (9-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Meshtri (IRE) 6-1jt-fav (7-11) Held up, effort on outside 4f out, wandered badly well over 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Magicalmysterytour (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcap (2) sft.
Ozone Trustee (NZ) 9-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden and effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 18, 8l behind Closertobelieving (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 2f stk 0-85 (3) sft.
Pass The Port 20-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Askar Tau (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug.
Buddhist Monk 7-4 (9-3) Held up in rear, smooth headway on wide outside over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, won going away, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol beating Isabelonabicycle (8-12) by 3l, 13 ran.
Tastahil (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Magicalmysterytour (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcap (2) sft.
Crete (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Mid-division, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Fiulin (8-10) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcap (2) gd.
Toldo (IRE) 9-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway 6f out, lost place over 4f out, 9th of 10, well behind Bollin Felix (9-9) at Thirsk 2m hcap (4) sft.
Times Vital (IRE) 11-2 (8-10) Settled towards rear, headway over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, asserted final 50 yards, won at Newbury 1m 4f hcap (4) gd beating Howdigo (9-1) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
