slowly into stride, held up in rear, steady headway from 4f out, led inside final 2f, driven out
held up towards rear, ridden and beaten 4f out
slowly into stride, soon recovered to lead and well clear after 3f, headed 3f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
prominent in chasing group, effort on inside and driven 3f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
slowly into stride, always in rear, well behind final 4f
chased leaders until weakened over 3f out
in touch, chased leaders from 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, soon chased winner and one pace final furlong
slowly into stride and always behind
held up well in rear, some headway over 4f out, soon no impression
tracked clear leader after 3f, led 3f out, headed inside final 2f and soon weakened
tracked leader for 3f, stayed prominent until weakened over 3f out
held up, effort on outside and driven from 4f out, weakened and no impression final 2f
The three recent winners Wild Pitch, Nina Fontenail and Arabian Moon look the ones to concentrate on here and we will side with Wild Pitch. Philip Mitchel's four-year-old has hit a rich vein of form landing consecutive races at Lingfield and Newmarket. The latest was a similar race to this where he was given an excellent ride by today's pilot, another bold showing can be expected. Nina Fontenail beat some seasoned handicappers last time at Chepstow and is partnered by one of the best amateur so has to be given every respect. Arabian Moon has landed a couple of selling handicaps and is not overburdened with ten stone five in the plate. The pick of the others should be the ultra consistent Barking Mad, however Wild Pitch looks the most progressive in the line up and he can land the hat-trick.
Scottish River (USA) 14-1 (9-2) Very slowly away and always well behind, last of 14, 19l behind James Caird (9-11) at Goodwood 1m 1f app hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Always rear, ridden and struggling final 4f, 14th of 17, 20l behind Best Be Going (8-9) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (D2) gd in Oct.
Barking Mad (USA) 9-2co-fav (9-5) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 3l behind My Galliano (8-2) at Epsom 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd in Jul.
The Player 9-2 (9-3) Started slowly, behind in rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, kept on final furlong but no chance with leaders, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Without A Trace (8-1) at Windsor 1m 4f stk 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Wild Pitch 10-1 (10-10) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, edged left and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f amt hcp (5) gf in Jul beating Fabrian (11-2) by a nk, 13 ran.
Flying Lyric (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, headway to lead over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 16l behind Riyadh (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-95 (C) gd in Oct '01.
Nina Fontenail (FR) 4-1 (11-3) In touch, headway to lead just over 3f out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 1m 4f amt hcp (6) gf in Jul beating French Mannequin (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 19 ran.
Noble Calling (FR) 6-1 (9-1) Held up, not clear run over 3f out, switched right and headway 2f out, led 1f out, soon headed, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Darn Good (8-10) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-70 (E) gf in Jul '04.
Arabian Moon (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Held up, hampered 6f out, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Nottingham 1m 6f sll hcp (6) gf in Jul beating Mr Whizz (8-3) by 1l, 13 ran.
Milk And Sultana 16-1 (8-0) Chased leading pair, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 6l behind My Galliano (8-2) at Epsom 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Fife And Drum (USA) 66-1 (9-12) Led early, tracked leaders, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 24l behind Jake Black (11-2) at Pontefract 1m 2f amt hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Groomsman 10-3fav (9-0) Chased leaders, hampered 6f out, not recover, 11th of 14, 32l behind La Viola (8-6) at Leicester 1m 3yo sll (6) gf in Jul.
