tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden out
slowly into stride, led after 1f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, soon one pace
keen led 1f, in touch, ridden to go 3rd over 1f out, kept on one pace
in rear, ridden and weakened 3f out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide intouch, ridden and weakened 2f out
always in rear
in touch, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, no impression final furlong
Nonrunner
Wind Star has terms in his favour on his seasonal bow in this seller but with fitness and form on his side we prefer FREMEN while Island Chief looks to have minor claims. Having scored on his last start in a similar race the selection couldn't come into this in better form. He won on similar ground at Hamilton in August and with his yard going well from limited runners so far he looks to be the choice with race sharpness on his side. Wind Star is the highest rated of these and receives weight from the pick but is returning from 281 days away from the track. Trainer Alan Swinbank can get them ready to go first time back but his rating might be over inflated giving the selection less improvement to find. Island chief is the only other apart from Fremen to have run this season and he showed an improved effort when finding just the one too good in a similar contest on his last run and with a win on this ground here over a mile he has no concerns about the conditions. Middle march looks the only other with minor prize claims on his return to the flat but with him given a mountain to climb at the weights we go for the on form Fremen.
Fremen (USA) 5-2 (8-11) Led over 6f out soon steadied pace, made rest, ridden and wandered inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol in Mar beating Straight Face (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Intersky Charm (USA) 11-1 (9-0) In touch, headway from over 2f out, squeezed through over 1f out to have every chance driven to lead inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct beating Nevada Desert (8-13) by nk, 12 ran.
Birkside 9-1 (9-6) In rear, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 16l behind Oddsmaker (9-1) at Musselburgh 1m 4f sell stks (6) gs in Oct.
Island Chief 10-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, driven to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Royal Dignitary (9-8) at Southwell 7f sell stks (6) fbs in Mar.
Jim Martin 12-1 (8-13) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 13, 20l behind On The Loose (8-10) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct.
Middlemarch (IRE) 11-1 (8-8) Keen hold in mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 13l behind Nevada Desert (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Oct.
Mydy Easy (USA) 9-1 (9-13) Close up behind leaders, ridden and stayed on into moderate 3rd 3f out, no impression, 4th of 8, 18l behind Shernando (8-8) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) fbs in Feb.
Primo Way 28-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, no impression, 9th of 15, 9l behind Shy Glance (9-6) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.
Wind Star 13-8fav (9-8) Held up mid division, headway over 3f out, weakened entering final furlong, 4th of 8, 11l behind Munsef (9-5) at Chester 1m 2f clm stks (5) gf in Jun.
United Nations 10-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 6, 11l behind Sedgwick (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol in Mar.
