prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, chased winner final furlong
towards rear, pushed along halfway, never near to challenge
towards rear, never dangerous
slowly into stride and behind, ridden over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, never near to challenge
mid-division, driven along halfway, soon outpaced
prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, never on terms
held up behind leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong
mid-division, effort over 3f out, soon weakened
towards rear, never a factor
slowly into stride and towards rear, chased along halfway, some late headway, never near to challenge
Brave Chief is taken to defy topweight, with Essex Star, Abbeygate and Mobo-Baco best of the remainder. Brave Chief has hit form of late, having returned to winning ways here at the start of the month. That was over six furlongs, and he then followed up just five days later when sent over another furlong on a return visit. He did the business again, and hopes are high that he will complete the hat-trick on this first attempt at a mile. Essex Star was placed on her only two previous visits here last year, and returns to the sand on a better mark than on Turf, so she can prove troublesome along with Abbeygate who has won two of his last three outings on the all-weather since being dropped back in trip. Mobo-Baco has been plying his trade on the faster Wolverhampton Polytrack without success of late, while Formidable Will carries a six-pound penalty for a recent Banded victory over the course and distance. They are the main dangers then, but Brave Chief is taken to see them all off.
Brave Chief 9-4fav (9-5) Made all, strongly challenged over 1f out, held on gamely, won at Southwell 7f stk (7) fbs beating Brendan's Surprise (9-0) by 1l, 13 ran.
Donegal Shore (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 9l behind Magic Warrior (8-11) at Leicester 1m stk (7) gd in Aug.
Essex Star (IRE) 7-2fav (8-4) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 9l behind My Michelle (8-9) at Leicester 7f fll hcp (5) sft in May.
Abbeygate 8-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, headway 4f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, won at Southwell 7f stk (G4) fbs in Mar beating Parc Aux Boules (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Savernake Brave (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Themesofgreen (9-0) at Brighton 1m stk (7) gd.
Formidable Will (FR) 8-1 (8-7) In touch, ridden to chase leader over 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Southwell 1m stk (7) fbs beating Sonderborg (8-13) by 2l, 13 ran.
Broughton Buzzer 16-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 13, 19l behind Band (9-7) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs in Jul.
Mobo-Baco 9-2 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, no impression, 7th of 10, 5l behind Rolex Free (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (G4) pol in Mar.
