held up mid-division, headway after 5th, chased winner from 3 out, no impression on winner
in touch to 5th, pulled up and dismounted 8th
held up, headway approching 3 out, ran on from last
chased leaders until weakened 6th
held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace last
held up towards rear, headway 7th to be in touch, led 4 out, soon clear easily
always towards rear
held up mid-division, headway 5th, led briefly 8th, headed before next, soon weakened
always mid-division
alwlays towards rear, pulled up beofe 4 out
mid-division, headway 7th, 6th and beaten when fell 3 out
never in contention
tracked leader, led briefly after 8th, soon headed, weakened before next
soon led, headed 8th, hard ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
in touch until ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, hard ridden 7th, never dangerous
prominent to 3rd, soon behind, tailed off
soon ridden along in rear, outpaced 7th, ran on from 2 out without being dangerous
prominent, ridden 8th, weakened next
in touch, blundered 8th, not recovered, dropped rear, tailed off
Nonrunner
We will shortlist Moscow Whisper, Ice Crystal, Accepting, Golden Bay, Crookstown Castle and Union Deux in this interesting conditional jockeys' event, but it is hard to get away from the credentials of Celtic Son, who gets the vote. The Martin Pipe-trained selection looked to be ahead of the handicapper when scoring at Taunton two days, and he has certainly taken that view as the six-year-old is due to rise by 17 pounds in the ratings after today. As we say, that gives him obvious credentials for this contest. Moscow Whisper holds reasonably solid form and has been raised eight pounds for finishing third at Exeter last time. However, he might be vulnerable off topweight, but Accepting is actually weighted to just get the better of the selection if you use literal formlines with Basilea Star. That horse is trained by Ferdy Murphy, who runs Union Deux. He has been raised eight pounds since his win in a similar event at Towcester and, although he was beaten into third at Wetherby last time, the fifth in that race won well at Sedgefield yesterday and he has a very capable rider on board. After knocking at the door, Golden Bay beat the subsequent winner Lady Zephyr at Exeter last time and looks to be improving, while Ice Crystal is just four pounds above a winning mark now, although that success came two years ago. Of the others, Oysterhaven might improve in first-time blinkers and Crookstown Castle put in a fair effort at Wetherby last time and could have more improvement to come at a trip he is trying for only the second time. However, as we say, it is hard to get away from Celtic Son, which is exactly what his his opponents might find happening today.
