prominent, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
dwelt, soon in touch, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders to halfway
slowly into stride and behind, soon pushed along, some late headway, never near to challenge
towards rear, never dangerous
led and headed over 2f out, remained in touch to regain lead 2f out, kept on until headed well inside final furlong, no extra close home
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression on leaders
chased leaders to halfway
in touch, led briefly over 2f out, soon beaten
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, ran on to lead well inside, kept on
mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression
towards rear, soon pushed along, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
In the sprint that starts the day, we will side with Talbot Lad from a shortlist that included Fire Up The Band, Danzig River, Matty Tun, River Falcon, Ptarmigan Ridge and Frascati. Fire Up The Band flew home at Chester last week so comes here in good form, but Talbot Lad is six pounds better off for the neck and a head he finished behind him in that race. The latter has also won over course and distance and, set to go up three pounds in the future ratings, he should go well off today's mark. Cape Royal was behind the pair at the Roodee, but Danzig River was a fair fourth, a run that also places him in the picture. Whistler is still five pounds above a winning mark, a comment of a similar nature applying to a number of the others, but Matty Tun will like the going and is now just a pound above a winning rating, so afford this course and distance winner plenty of respect. The lightly-raced Fictional is on a winning mark too but he is unproven on soft, but River Falcon revelled in it when scoring last time and can be competitive again from a five-pound higher mark, and he also won this race last year. Ptarmigan Ridge will also handle the conditions and is on a competitive mark, and Frascati is no forlorn hope off a light weight. Overall, though, we will side with Talbot Lad.
Fire Up The Band 14-1 Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Chester 5f hcp gs beating Fonthill Road by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Talbot Avenue 10-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Fire Up The Band at Chester 5f hcp gs.
Cape Royal 9-1 With leaders to halfway, weakened over 1f out, last of 14, 10l behind Fire Up The Band at Chester 5f hcp gs.
Bygone Days 7-2fav Chased leaders far side, ridden halfway, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Enchantment at York 5f hcp 0-100 (C) sft in Aug.
Whistler 20-1 Behind, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reach leaders, 10th of 14, 6l behind Fire Up The Band at Chester 5f hcp gs.
Endless Summer 16-1 Raced wide, always towards rear, 10th of 12, 9l behind Chateau Nicol at Lingfield 6f hcp (D2) pol in Dec.
Magic Glade 100-1 Raced stands' side, chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, soon one pace, 12th of 30, 6l behind Indian Trail at Newmarket 6f hcp gf in Apr.
Danzig River (IRE) 14-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, not quicken towards finish, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Fire Up The Band at Chester 5f hcp gs.
Matty Tun 40-1 Towards rear, never dangerous, 18th of 20, 14l behind Fonthill Road at Beverley 5f hcp gd in Apr.
Fictional 14-1 Chased leaders, effort 2f out, every chance 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Philharmonic at Beverley 5f stk gd.
River Falcon 9-2 Held up behind leaders, pushed along over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, quickened clear, won at Thirsk 5f stk sft in Apr beating Four Amigos by 4l, 12 ran.
Ptarmigan Ridge 14-1 Behind, headway final furlong, ran on near finish, 7th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Bishops Court at Epsom 5f hcp gs in Apr.
Frascati 10-1 Chased leaders stands' side, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 13, 7l behind Highland Warrior at Ripon 5f hcp sft in Apr.
Alpaga Le Jomage (IRE) 25-1 Held up, hampered after 1f, ridden and headway over 2f out, bumped over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 9l behind Briannsta at Chester 6f 3yo hcp gs.
