held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
led early, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, effort on outer over 3f out, weakened entering final furlong
chased leader, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on
held up and keen, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace
held up mid-division, no impression from over 2f out
chased leaders, one pace over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on
made most, ridden over 2f out, kept on
held up towards rear, weakened over 3f out
A very tricky look to the opener, where the suggestion is MOON LIGHTNING to get the better of She's In The Money and Iron Out. It is not easy to confidently assess the merits of plenty of these, including the selection, though there are reasons to believe that tonight could be his night. Trainer Mark Tompkins has his runners in good nick, and this Desert Prince colt should enjoy a bit of cut in the ground. He has dropped 11lbs in the handicap after three fast ground runs this campaign, making this easier, and he should be an ideal type for trips from a mile to 10 furlongs. She's In The Money looks another potential plot-up, and Richard Fahey already knows that she acts on this ground. The step up in trip is the key here, and she should be much better suited by this mile than when thrashed over 6f at Doncaster last month. Iron Out won a Leicester seller and has made the frame in claimers and handicaps since then. He stays this far and the slower ground might also help him get involved. Swiss Art has never won away from Southwell's Fibresand but he is in cracking form and has a few pounds in hand on turf compared to his mark on the artificial surfaces, so he could make the shake-up. Dark Ranger stays at least this far but would prefer quicker ground, and a more interesting runner may be Lost In The Desert, who makes his handicap debut from a mark of 68. This trip is ideal for now and pedigree suggests he will enjoy a bit of juice in the ground, so market support should be noted. Peter's Gift has already won on soft ground so is proven on that score, and with the trip ideal and a slide back down to a previous winning mark on Fibresand he cannot be dismissed lightly. As we said at the top this really is a bit of a conundrum and we hope that Moon Lightning can strike for the second time.
Harriet's Girl 13-2 (9-1) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 6th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Mister Tinktastic (9-3) at Pontefract 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Lost In The Desert (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, headway to lead 6f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 7l behind Captain Ellis (9-0) at Haydock 1m mdn stks (5) fm.
Peter's Gift (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division on inside, pushed along 3f out, hard driven and effort on inside over 1f out, no extra final 1f, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Arachnophobia (9-5) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Iron Out (USA) 13-8fav (9-6) Led, headed over 3f out, ridden inside final furlong, not quicken, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Uncle Brit (9-2) at Southwell 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Moon Lightning (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon one pace, eased near finish, 5th of 8, 6l behind Atacama Sunrise (8-7) at Yarmouth 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Swiss Art (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Mid-division on inside, headway 3f out, challenged 2f out, led well over 1f out, driven final furlong and stayed on well, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs beating Byron Bay (9-5) by 1l, 12 ran.
She's In The Money 16-1 (9-5) In touch, ridden along halfway, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 15l behind The Scorching Wind (8-10) at Doncaster 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jun.
Fantino 25-1 (8-13) Close up, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f, 5th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Glowing Praise (9-7) at Leicester 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Dark Ranger 9-4 (8-7) In touch, ridden 3f out, switched left over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Umverti (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Steel Stockholder 20-1 (8-8) Behind, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 4l behind Snow Bay (9-7) at Catterick 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Flapper (IRE) 14-1 (7-13) Held up on outside, headway 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f, no impression, 7th of 12, 7l behind Honours Stride (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo fll hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jun.
Aven Mac (IRE) 33-1 (8-3) Fly leapt start, held up, hung left and raced wide over 3f out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 12l behind Hawkeyethenoo (8-7) at Beverley 1m 3yo app hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
