led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, quickly weakened approaching next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up, in rear and beat when blundered 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on to lead near finish
held up and keen, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, kept on headed near finish
held up, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, one pace
raced prominent, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 2 out
Nonrunner
A decent race to conclude the card and we should pick up some pointers for future contests here, but for today we will take topweight Marlborough Sound to score, with Front Rank, High Gear, Son Of Greek Myth, and Melmount Star other up for consideration. The selection was brought along patiently last season, landing a maiden contest at Cartmel in the spring. However, the gelding put up a very decent reappearance, being touched off by Drumbeater at Perth. That rival came out and won again at Haydock the other day, franking the form, and with the prospect of more improvement from Marlborough Sound we'll take him to score. Front Rank was an easy Stratford winner in May, and gets the cut in the ground he loves here. He is clearly short list material and it will be interesting to see how he goes after a break. Easters Boy and High Gear came home together at Huntingdon last time, but this slower ground is not necessarily in favour of either of them. Son Of Greek Myth has had plenty of racecourse experience and may not be open to that much more improvement, even at four. He can get involved but was possibly over rated last year, while Melmount Star gets plenty of weight from these and Howard Johnson will be hoping for good things from the Cartmel winner, though the going may not be ideal. That shouldn't be a problem for Marlborough Sound, however, and we will side with him.
Front Rank (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Always prominent, led on bit after 3 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in May beating Virtus (10-7) by 12l, 10 ran.
Esters Boy 7-1 (11-5) Always prominent, ridden to challenge 2 out, led flat, all out, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd beating High Gear (11-4) by a nk, 9 ran.
Son of Greek Myth (USA) 5-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Schapiro (11-11) at Newbury 2m 3f 4yo nov hcp hdl (D) gs in Apr.
Nite Fox (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden and lost touch after 7th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Swifts Hill (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in May, 8 ran.
Baikaline (FR) 3-1fav (11-0) In touch, hampered 2nd, effort 8th, weakened next, beaten when mistake 11th, 3rd of 7, well behind Lonesome Man (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Jun.
Rowan Castle 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th and under pressure when fell in race won by Mikasa (10-1) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gs in May, 7 ran.
Blue Rising 50-1 (10-7) Held up behind, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, chased winner last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Dont Call Me Derek (11-0) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Lord Rosskit (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) In touch, headway to track leader after 4 out, led approaching 2 out, headed between last 2, ridden and weakened flat, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Saucy King (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gf.
Marlborough Sound 5-1 (11-3) Held up and keen, headway to track leaders approaching 9th, not fluent 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Drumbeater (10-4) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Sept.
High Gear (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Held up in touch, headway 9th, ridden to challenge approaching last, stayed on under pressure, 2nd of 9, nk behind Esters Boy (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd.
Melmount Star (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3 out, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (E) gd in Aug beating Shady Baron (10-13) by 2l, 9 ran.
Before The Mast (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) In rear, headway on inside after 4th, mistake and weakened 3 out, 11th of 16, 34l behind Rimsky (10-12) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) gs.
