in touch in mid-division, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, soon hung right, ran on
went left start, led, headed 3f out, hampered over 2f out, soon weakened
steadied start, took keen hold in rear, headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway on far rail 2f out, not clear run inside final furlong, stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, not clear run 3f out, switched left 2f out, no extra final 75 yards
slightly bumped start, took keen hold, prominent, led and hung right 3f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, never on terms
prominent, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no impression on winner final 100 yards
The in-form DUALAGI gets the nod here in a race that fails to inspire. Although favoured by racing against the rail at Folkestone when successful a week ago, the mare was still relatively impressive for the grade. A penalty puts her on a stiff mark but with most of her rivals out of form she is hard to ignore. Thalia Grace never looked like featuring at Epsom but she wouldn't be the first horse to bounce back from a run at that unique track, Miss Firefly filled second to the selection last time and this consistent mare will run well for backers again, whilst Pragmatist runs this track well but she needs to bounce back after a poor Newbury run when favourite. Blue Again's form has a solid feel to it and the handicapper is giving her a chance inch by inch, whilst the returning Gooseberry Bush and the top-weight Russian Rave are both opposable unless the market says otherwise.
Russian Rave 7-2 (9-9) Dwelt, mid-division, headway over 2f out, overall leader over 1f out, soon headed, ridden and stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Avon Lady (9-10) at Yarmouth 1m fll hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Candyfloss Girl 14-1 (9-4) Tracked winner, ridden halfway, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Panpiper (8-12) at Bath 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) fm in Jul.
Gooseberry Bush 15-2 (8-12) Chased leaders, driven along halfway, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 16, 5l behind Hot Pursuits (8-12) at Windsor 5f 2yo mdn aut (5) gd in Oct.
Blue Again 7-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 6l behind Jimmy The Poacher (9-6) at Leicester 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Pragmatist 2-1fav (9-3) Prominent in main group, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 8l behind Blessed Place (8-1) at Newbury 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul.
Miss Firefly 2-1fav (9-1) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Dualagi (8-7) at Folkestone 6f fll hcp (5) gf.
Thalia Grace 13-2 (8-2) In touch, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, 5th of 6, 20l behind Starwatch (8-2) at Epsom Downs 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jul.
Dualagi 5-1 (8-7) Tracked leader, shaken up 1f out, switched right and ridden entering final furlong, soon led, kept on well, won at Folkestone 6f fll hcp (5) gf beating Miss Firefly (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Silvee 13-2 (8-4) Prominent, pushed along halfway, disputed 2nd on inside over 1f out until last strides, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Spanish Acclaim (9-7) at Brighton 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
