mid-division, pushed along halfway, driven over 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden along over 3f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, pushed along halfway, driven 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up, behind leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression
led, ridden along over 2f out, headed 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
held up, driven and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, ridden along and headway 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, not much room entering final furlong, ran on towards finish
mid-division, ridden along halfway, never dangerous
tracked leader, ridden along over 2f out, one pace final furlong
never better than mid-division
in touch, ridden along over 2f out, driven to challenge and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
always rear division
reared at start, towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden along and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden along halfway, soon beaten
towards rear, ridden along halfway, some late headway, never troubled leaders
A high draw may be marginally more preferable to a low draw and, bearing that is mind, the vote goes to Bustan, who gets the vote ahead of Middlemarch and Observatory Star. The last mentioned has solid claims on the pick of his form but Tim Easterby's string are not in great form at present so he may be best watched. The Michael Jarvis-trained Fragrancy deserves to get his head in front following a couple of decent placed efforts and would have claims provided that the low draw is of no problem. Similar comments apply to Alan Swinbank's lightly raced Soccerjackpot and the light weight Pianoforte. A bigger threat may come from the consistent Monkey Glas, while Middlemarch has done little wrong of late but may just be a shade high in the weights. Bustan showed a return to form over course and distance last time and, under similar conditions, he looks worth a wager to go one better here.
Hartshead 20-1 (9-9) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 12, 11l behind Suits Me (8-8) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Bustan (IRE) 10-3 (10-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Boundless Prospect (9-1) at Redcar 1m clm (4) gs in Sept.
Karoo Blue (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Led, headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Magical Music (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcap (2) pol in Sept.
Fragrancy (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Led, hard pressed from over 2f out, headed just inside final furlong, carried slightly right and always held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Ventura (9-4) at Sandown 1m fll hcp (4) gf in Sept.
Nanton (USA) 12-1 (8-3) Always behind, last of 11, 25l behind The Grey Berry (8-5) at Ayr 1m 2f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Middlemarch (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Mid-division far side, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug beating Kenmore (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Il Castagno (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 1f out, no extra, 7th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Webbow (9-4) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Soccerjackpot (USA) 12-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, led 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra, 5th of 17, 6l behind Tybalt (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Boundless Prospect (USA) 16-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Redcar 1m clm (4) gs in Sept beating Bustan (10-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Observatory Star (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 13, hd behind Zaahid (9-1) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Sept.
Will He Wish 33-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden on inside over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 14, 7l behind Blackat Blackitten (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sept.
Monkey Glas (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, challenged over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Sunlight (9-7) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Exit Smiling 12-1 (9-8) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 6th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Malinsa Blue (8-12) at Pontefract 1m hcap (5) frm in Sept.
Motafarred (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Towards rear, effort 3f out, some late headway, never reached challenging position, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Gloucester (8-10) at Beverley 1m 2f hcap (4) gf in Sept.
Darfour 25-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, raced stand side, chased stand side leader, weakened over 2f out, 14th of 15, 25l behind Lap of Honour (8-7) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp (3) sft in Aug.
Efidium 11-2 (8-12) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 14, 11l behind Boundless Prospect (9-1) at Redcar 1m clm (4) gs in Sept.
Pianoforte (USA) 14-1 (8-11) Towards rear far side, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 15, 11l behind Crocodile Bay (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Borodinsky 16-1 (9-2) Towards rear centre, never dangerous, 13th of 15, 17l behind Observatory Star (9-6) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
Typhoon Ginger (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 13l behind Boundless Prospect (9-1) at Redcar 1m clm (4) gs in Sept.
Flying Valentino 7-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, switched right over 1f out, edged left and stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Musical Beat (9-2) at Catterick 7f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Aug.
