held up towards rear, ridden 4f out, no impression
chased leaders, led after 6f, soon clear, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up, effort over 3f out, soon weakened
ridden over 3f out, headway on inner over 2f out, not much room inside final furlong, no impression
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression
mid-division, ridden over 4f out and not much room, staying on and not much room again over 2f out, no impression
chased leaders, ridden and not much room over 2f out, soon never dangerous
mid-division, headway over 3f out, one pace
chased leaders, pushed along over 5f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
behind, ridden and headway over 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, lost 2nd close home
held up, ridden over 4f out, never dangerous
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, stayed on to take 2nd close home
held up, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, no impression
led for 6f, chased leader, ridden to lead again over 2f out, hard ridden and kept on under pressure inside final furlong
held up, ridden over 5f out, never dangerous
held up, ridden over 3f out, headway on inner over 2f out, soon not much room, no impression
tracked leaders and keen, weakened over 3f out
prominent and keen, ridden over 4f out, weakened final 3f
Nonrunner
With Greenwich Meantime done no favours by the draw, a chance is taken with Bulwark who gets the vote over Dorothy's Friend, Wing Collar and Finalmente in an as ever competitive renewal. Once the draw was announced on Thursday, a chill must have run down the spines of those who have backed Greenwich Meantime ante-post as history shows that a double-figure stall is the kiss of death. The ex-Lynda Ramsden inmate has done nothing wrong since joining Richard Fahey, as his third in the Chester Cup and recent success at Ayr reveals, but he is there to be opposed at current odds. We shall do so with Bulwark who hails from a stable that likes to lay one out for this. Indeed, Amanda Perrett has saddled a winner and a runner-up from just five runners, and although Bulwark does tend to carry his head high, his Haydock success, with Wing Collar, Mirjan and Dorothy's Friend behind, gives him a great chance of adding to her record. He will relish the fast ground and long finishing straight at Gosforth Park and has a great draw in stall nine. Dorothy's Friend is the forgotten horse, and although he was behind the selection at Haydock, that was his comeback run and he should get a lot closer now. He has been quietly backed all week and should make the frame at least. Finalmente lines up in search of a hat-trick and will be suited by the step up in trip so is worth a mention, while Escayola has the plumb draw in stall one. The likes of Odiham and River Alhaarth have been done no favours at all by the draw, and having weighed up all the options, Bulwark has more going for him than most.
Swing Wing (9-3) Prominent, weakened 2f out, 4th of 7, 7l behind Cherry Mix (8-6) at Deauville 1m 6f Grp 2 hvy in Aug '04.
Acropolis (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Close up, ridden straight, weakened 2f out, 7th of 9, 12l behind Akarem (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in May.
Astrocharm (IRE) 5-1 (8-7) Held up in rear but in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 4, 26l behind Alfie Flits (8-12) at Pontefract 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Bulwark (IRE) 3-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon hung left, hung left again and led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun beating Colloquial (9-6) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Odiham 10-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear on outside, headway halfway, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed 1f out, not quicken well inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 1l behind Toldo (8-4) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-105 (2) sft in May.
Tarandot (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Held up, headway over 4f out, weakened and edged left over 3f out, 4th of 5, 10l behind Arbella (8-11) at Haydock 1m 4f lst fll stk (1) hvy in May.
Finalmente 3-1 (9-11) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, driven to join leader post, won at Folkestone 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun deadheating with Blue Bajan (9-4), 5 ran.
Mirjan (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Bulwark (9-9) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Dorothy's Friend 16-1 (9-8) Held up, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 8l behind Bulwark (9-9) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Greenwich Meantime 6-4fav (9-2) In touch, smooth headway over 2f out, soon led, ran on well to go clear final furlong, won at Ayr 1m 5f hcap (3) gd in Jun beating Lets Roll (9-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Wing Collar 17-2 (9-3) Started slowly, behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Bulwark (9-9) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Mikao (IRE) 16-1 (8-0) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 13th of 17, 13l behind Admiral (8-1) at Chester 2m 3f hcap (2) gf in May.
River Alhaarth (IRE) 5-2fav (8-13) Prominent, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Signatory (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) sft in May.
Savannah Bay 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division on outside, weakened over 6f out, tailed off, 25th of 29, well behind Baddam (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun.
Toldo (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Led 1f, prominent, led again 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened towards finish, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Bulwark (9-9) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Tilt 3-1fav (9-4) In touch, chased leaders 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, gaining close home, 3rd of 16, 1/2l behind Salute (8-13) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jun.
Ten Carat 11-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 5, 11l behind Ski Jump (8-6) at York 2m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jun.
Escayola (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up in mid-division, stayed on one pace final 2f, 8th of 29, 14l behind Baddam (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun.
Most Definitely (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, effort over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 10, 9l behind Greenwich Meantime (9-2) at Ayr 1m 5f hcap (3) gd in Jun.
Tiyoun (IRE) 25-1 (9-8) Tracked leader until over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 7l behind Dovedon Hero (8-12) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gf in May '05.
Elusive Dream 12-1 (9-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led over 4f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 29, 14l behind Baddam (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun.
