keen, tracked leader, led and joined 6f out, ridden and headed 4f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced 3f out, driven and rallied approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 2nd post
set steady pace, headed 6f out, ridden and dropped to rear 4f out, soon struggling
keen, in rear, but in touch, smooth headway to track winner going well over 3f out, ridden, hung left, found nil over 1f out, lost 2nd post
keen, held up in rear but in touch, headway to join leader 6f out, led 4f out, pushed out
Nonrunner
An interesting race despite the small field and one that can go to BENTLEY BROOK who can beat Follow The Dream and Saloon. Our selection caused an upset when holding on to beat Follow The Dream last time at Wolverhampton and despite having to carry a penalty today looks value to confirm the form back at his favourite course. Contrastingly, Karen George's horse is yet to race here and as one who seems to relish relatively quick conditions on the turf looks worth opposing this time until proving the surface holds no fears. Saloon is a talented but quirky performer and another who hasn't yet tried this surface, but if able to adapt would be more than capable of landing this relatively moderate heat having run in many stronger races in the past. Leyte Gulf ran well off a pound lower last time having previously scored at Wolverhampton and so looks likely to run a solid race but course form is thin on the ground where this one is concerned and so the gelding is narrowly passed over, whilst in contrast course specialist Victory Quest should enjoy the conditions but hasn't been running well lately and perhaps age is catching up with the nine-year-old. This should make intriguing viewing and our token selection is Bentley Brook.
Bentley Brook (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd over 4f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, won at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Follow The Dream (8-10) by nk, 7 ran.
Saloon (USA) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, soon hung right, no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Mildoura (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) std in Nov.
Victory Quest (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Mid-division, headway over 6f, effort when out paced over 2f, driven and stayed on towards finish, 5th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Mr Crystal (9-8) at Pontefract 2m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fm in Apr.
Leyte Gulf (USA) 3-1fav (9-7) Towards rear, chased leaders over 2f out, hung right and chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Private Equity (8-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Follow The Dream 13-8fav (8-10) Held up, not much room 4f out, headway and switched right over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, nk behind Bentley Brook (10-0) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Marsam (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Led, ridden over 2f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 8l behind Fresh Mint (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcap (5) pol in Jan '08.
