made all, edged left inside final furlong, ridden out
in rear, headway and hung left over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, one pace
towards rear, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
outpaced, hung left final furlong, ran on final 100yds, nearest finish
stumbled slightly start, chased leaders, lost place halfway, soon behind
slowly into stride, mid-division, headway halfway, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
went slightly left start, soon steadied, held up, headway over 1f out, one pace well inside final furlong
slowly into stride, outpaced, hung left and ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
slightly awkward start, pressed winner, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
hampered start, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
A tough finish to a decent card and the tentative vote goes to last-year's winner Haajes ahead of the consistent Equuleus Pictor and recent winners Comptonspirit and Matterofact. The selection took this at 9/1 last year and on recent form he is likely to be double that price today. However he may have needed the run on his reappearance and then never looked at home at Southwell last time. Dropped back to his best trip, this former Dermot Weld inmate is fancied to run well at rewarding odds. Matterofact showed good resolution when winning at Windsor on soft ground and he handles any ground, Pennyspider is a game front-runner but probably high enough in the weights, whilst Comptonspirit beat Mr Wolf at Pontefract but may find this easier test not up his street. Equuleus Pictor is consistent but keeps finding at least one too good, so a bigger danger may be Black Moma who is a course and distance winner and keeping her form well. At a price Spoof Master could go well with Philip Robinson an interesting jockey booking, however it is Haajes who gets the selection.
Equuleus Pictor 2-1fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, hard ridden, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home, 3rd of 10, hd behind Matterofact (8-5) at Windsor 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Comptonspirit 4-1 (9-7) In touch, driven over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Pontefract 5f hcap (5) gf in Jul beating Mr Wolf (9-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Haajes 22-1 (9-7) Soon ridden, always behind, 12th of 14, 11l behind Cool Sands (8-12) at Southwell 6f hcap (5) fbs in Jul.
Back In The Red (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Just Spike (8-7) at Leicester 6f hcap (5) gf in Jul.
Spoof Master (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Led, headed entering final furlong, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 5l behind Make My Dream (9-0) at Windsor 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Matterofact (IRE) 15-2 (8-5) Chased leaders, led 2f out, hard ridden, held on, won at Windsor 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gs beating Make My Dream (9-3) by a hd, 10 ran.
Black Moma (IRE) 4-1fav (9-11) Pressed leader to just over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 4l behind Drumming Party (9-4) at Salisbury 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jul.
Tender Process (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, ridden and some headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 14, 18l behind Elusive Hawk (9-8) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Jul.
Pennyspider (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 10, 3l behind Pretty Bonnie (8-7) at Bath 5f fll hcp (5) gs.
High Reach 14-1 (9-2) Led, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 16l behind Kyle (9-4) at Bath 6f clm (6) gs.
Signor Panettiere 40-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased, 13th of 14, 18l behind Desperate Dan (9-7) at Bath 5f clm (6) frm in Jul.
Bookiesindex Boy 12-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, effort and soon under pressure halfway, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 14l behind Gleaming Spirit (9-5) at Yarmouth 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
