held up in touch, effort 2f out soon faded
slowly into stride, raced keenly in mid division, headway over 1f out, soon chasing winner, no extra final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, nearest finish
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, never nearer
chased leader, hard driven over 1f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, soon ridden to challenge, no impression
held up in touch, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well
held up, never nearer
led, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leader, effort 2f out, soon faded
behind, soon outpaced, never dangerous
Plenty of the field come into this ultra competitive handicap in good form and after scoring last time on his first ever start at this track we give very marginally preference to DANCE AND DANCE ahead of claimer winner Bea Menace and the on form Dukes Art. The selection quicken nicely to take success last time and giving he wasn't stopping his six pound mark rise seems fair. He's generally been running well this season and on the pick of his formhe looks the one they have to beat. Bea Menace got her head in front in a claimer last time but that form looks good now transferred to this event as Paul Cole's filly beat some higher rated animals so her own mark now looks competitive. Dukes Art has won twice from three starts over this trip which came as back to back victories in July. He proved his effectiveness on this surface last time when just finding one too good but we are slightly put off by another mark rise for that effort. Leverage ran a stinker when debuting on this surface last time and we are inclined to see if he can handle the polytrack before giving him another chance so in a tight contest Dance And Dance is just the call.
African Art (USA) 6-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Good Again (9-4) at Pontefract 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Dance And Dance (IRE) 11-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway when not much room over 2f out, weaved about over 1f out, got through entering final furlong, quickened to lead well inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol beating Yankee Storm (8-8) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Ray of Joy 6-1 (9-1) Took keen hold, in touch, good headway from 2f out, led entering final furlong, soon edged right and 2 lengths clear, no extra and headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Getcarter (8-9) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Leverage (IRE) 4-5fav (9-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along on outside 3f out, never in contention, 9th of 12, 9l behind Dance And Dance (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Carbon Hoofprint 9-2 (9-3) Led, ridden over 2f out, no extra towards finish, 6th of 9, 2l behind Kaolak (10-0) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Dukes Art 7-4fav (9-6) Held up behind, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, every chance towards finish, just held, 2nd of 7, ns behind Audemar (9-4) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Aug.
Bea Menace (USA) 8-1 (8-4) Prominent, went 2nd 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Pontefract 1m 3yo clm (4) gf beating Roar Of Applause (8-9) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
All About You (IRE) 7-2 (8-6) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Bea Menace (8-4) at Pontefract 1m 3yo clm (4) gf.
Darcey 7-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, headway on inside over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, every chance final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Muftarres (9-5) at Warwick 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Luckier (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Mid-division, headway from 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed entering final 1f, one pace, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Beautiful Filly (7-13) at Wolverhampton 7f fll hcp (4) pol.
Imperial House 12-1 (8-12) Went left start, held up towards far side, headway over 2f out, driven to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Liberty Trail (9-1) at Redcar 7f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
