in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
always in rear
slowly into stride, ridden over 3f out, kept on, never nearer
led after 1f, headed 8f out, remained close up, ridden to chase leader 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway from over 2f out, chased leader approaching final furlong, stayed on to lead post
led 1f, led again ovre 6f out, clear 5f out, ridden 3f out, caught post
close up, led 8f out, headed over 6f out, chased leader until 3f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway 3f out, no impression final 2f
held up, wide and headway from 3f out, ridden and stayed on same pace from over 1f out
slowly into stride, in rear, stumbled over 4f out, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4f out
Not many of these have any worthwhile recent form, so it can pay to stick with COMRADE COTTON, who carries the mandatory penalty for winning a similar race at Leicester nine days ago. Murrumbidgee and Lady Valentino are others with solid claims for a race of this nature, while Noah Jamal has been good heart in better handicaps of late and is another worthy of consideration. The fact he has never won on turf is off-putting, though. Lady Valentino has a good record of making the frame when racing over 10 furlongs. And she is a likely candidate to once again make the first three. She is, however, 0-from-16 from her career starts so far and has obvious limitations for win only purposes. Murrumbidgee has an almost equally dismal strike-rate and hardly leaps from the page as one to support with maximum confidence. Nevertheless, this is his right level, so he is no forlorn in this company. However, Comrade Cotton has been in cracking form in a number of amateur/apprentice races of late and, as he showed at Leicester nine days ago; he can be a very tough nut to crack when all the pieces fit together.
Comrade Cotton 3-1 (8-7) In touch, lost place and dropped to last 7f out, steady headway from over 2f out, led narrowly 1f out, pushed out, won at Leicester 1m 4f app hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May beating Monaadi (8-11) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Noah Jameel 9-2 (8-6) Tracked leaders, keen, carried right on bend 5f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, 6th of 7, 32l behind Pelham Crescent (9-4) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) fm in May.
Bernix 25-1 (8-6) Mid-division, effort over 4f out, no impression, 15th of 16, well behind Red Wine (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (5) gs in May.
Captain Oats (IRE) 80-1 (8-6) Keen, headway to chase leader over 5f out, ridden 3f out, lost 2nd well inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind The Flying Cowboy (9-0) at Leicester 1m 2f hcap (6) gs in Aug '07.
Ruwain 11-1 (8-8) Led, ridden over 1f out headed inside final furlong, no extra, 6th of 13, 8l behind Nassar (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Apr.
Lady Valentino 16-1 (8-13) Keen, close up, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 12, shd behind Rose Of Coma (8-2) at Leicester 1m 2f sell stks (6) gf in May.
Murrumbidgee (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) In touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression final furlong, 4th of 11, 7l behind Cwm Rhondda (8-10) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May.
Pretty Officer (USA) 25-1 (7-13) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 16, 8l behind Cwm Rhondda (9-3) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (6) gd in May.
Keen As Mustard 66-1 (8-5) Chased leader until over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 9, 6l behind Chalice Welcome (9-5) at Brighton 1m 2f app hcp 0-60 (6) fm in May.
Karmei 66-1 (8-7) Led after 1f, ridden and weakened when headed over 2f out, 12th of 16, 17l behind Mossmann Gorge (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) in May.
Tivers Song (USA) 80-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place over 4f out, 10th of 12, well behind Aureate (11-7) at Southwell 1m 4f Am clm stks (6) fbs in May.
Dynamo Dave (USA) 40-1 (8-6) Always in rear, 13th of 16, 17l behind Mossmann Gorge (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) in May.
Treetops Hotel (IRE) 50-1 (8-1) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, 13th of 15, 23l behind McCormack (8-6) at Newcastle 1m 2f app hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Apr.
