taken to post early, pulled hard, tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up, headway when not clear run and hampered over 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish
soon pushed along in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway when not clear run and hampered entering final furlong, not recover
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
led after 1f, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon hung left and weakened
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway and switched right over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
outpaced in rear, never troubled leaders
in touch, ridden over 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to snatch 2nd post
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
With Brian Ellison's horses coming into form RESTLESS GENIUS rates a solid bet to land the finale ahead of Colombard and Jord. The selection had been struggling before shaping with promise when second over an inadequate five furlongs at Southwell last time and back at the scene of his last success the gelding can go one better today. Martin Lane's mount races off just 64 today having won tidily here off a pound higher back in May despite suffering trouble in running and on that form he looks very well treated in a race that shouldn't take much winning. The able jockey's 3lb claim further adds to the confidence behind this horse and he can send favourite backers home in good spirits if the market shapes up as expected. Colombard rates a very real danger having been beaten only a head over this course and distance last time. The former Irish trained gelding had also gone close over six at Lingfield and so should be at his best under today's conditions. If Paul Hanagan manages to get this horse to the front early as he may well seek to do the four-year-old could be tough to peg back under his experienced pilot. Jord may represent a bit of value here having been well beaten at Southwell last time. Chris Catlin rides the mare for the first time today and from stall two will surely look to grab the rail and set a brisk pace aboard his horse who is possibly better over further, having been narrowly held over seven furlongs here two starts ago. If you go back as far as April though the five-year-old won over this course and distance off five pounds higher and if able to get to the front early it will be interesting to see if she can repel the challenges of speedier types as the contest progresses. Kipchak arrives here in good form but this is a bare minimum for him these days and so a bigger threat may come from Grimes Faith who looks well-handicapped if able to reproduce his best form. Much of that form has come at Southwell though and so we'll side with Restless Genius to teach these a thing or two.
Kipchak (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Great Charm (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Restless Genius (IRE) 17-2 (8-10) Close up, every chance over 1f out until kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Bel Cantor (8-13) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Grimes Faith 8-1 (9-4) Soon towards rear and pushed along, unseated rider over 3f out, in a race won by Decider (9-9) at Wolverhampton 5f sell stks (6) pol, 11 ran.
Jord (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) Soon led, headed 3f out, weakening when not much room 2f out, 8th of 13, 15l behind Elusive Fame (9-2) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Mandhooma 14-1 (8-5) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, losing place when carried left just inside final 2f, last of 12, 10l behind Triple Dream (8-13) at Bath 6f app hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug.
Malapropism 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 7l behind Ask Jenny (8-12) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Welcome Approach 9-2 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on, not trouble leaders, 6th of 13, 6l behind Nacho Libre (8-13) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol.
Top Flight Splash 12-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 14, 10l behind Naomh Geileis (9-4) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Colombard (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, led inside final furlong, soon hung left, caught post, 2nd of 12, hd behind Diamond Fire (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f Apprentice Handicap (0-52) (3yo+) (6) pol.
Josiah Bartlett (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden inside final furlong, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Dancing Welcome (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Lujiana 20-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 7l behind Darcy's Pride (9-0) at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-55 (6) gf in Aug.
Obe Brave 14-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, 5th approaching straight, no extra from over 1f out,, 8th of 14, 15l behind Fandango Boy (8-13) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol.
