made all, ridden over 2f out, driven out final furlong
always rear division
prominent, ridden along over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
held up, behind leaders, driven over 1f out, chased winner final furlong
behind, headway on innner over 1f out, never reached challenging position
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 4f out, driven over 2f out and soon behind
towards rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, never reached challenging position
mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, driven over 2f out, stayed on towards finish
The short list for a competitive handicap consists of Dunaskin, Blue Spinnaker, Krugerrand and Fong's Gazelle, with the selection being Dunaskin. Dunaskin is now two pounds below a winning mark and even though that success came in 2004, he showed a lot more sparkle at York last time and can go well today. Folio also is respected, being just a pound above a winning mark, while Ballentini is lightly-raced and open to improvement and may have found 12 furlongs too far last time having won over today's trip the time before. Blue Spinnaker also gets a big shout being undoubtedly well handicapped and having shown a bit more sparkle last-time out; he also races in first-time blinkers today. William's Way has been making hay on the all-weather but needs to build on that now on Turf, while Krugerrand is undoubtedly on a good mark if running to anywhere near his best. Lucayan Dancer is also back to a winning mark from last season, although that came in an apprentice handicap, while Spanish Hidalgo has a progressive profile and cannot entirely be ruled out on his seasonal bow. With the bottom pair possibly having to compete against the handicapper - although Fong's Gazelle represents the in-form Mark Johnston - we return to the selection, which is Dunaskin.
Dunaskin (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, edged right over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Emirates Skyline (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in May.
Folio (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, never a factor, 9th of 11, 17l behind Ballinteni (8-11) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Ballinteni 10-1 (9-0) Towards rear, driven over 2f out, never reached challenging position, 10th of 15, 6l behind High Treason (8-8) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Blue Spinnaker (IRE) 18-1 (8-5) Towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest at finish, 4th of 12, 3/4l behind Flipando (9-3) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Krugerrand (USA) 9-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden along and headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 13, 8l behind My Arch (9-1) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Harvest Warrior 5-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway on inner over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Wasalat (9-5) at Ripon 1m 2f hcap (5) gf.
Fongs Gazelle 5-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 8, 8l behind Pipedreamer (9-7) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Spanish Hidalgo (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Led until halfway, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 25l behind Caldra (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
