behind, effort over 1 f out on outer, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, effort over 2 f out one pace
chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
chased leaders, led over 1f out, headed towards finish
held up, headway and not much room when switched right over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish
in touch, weakend 1f out
led, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
A tricky enough handicap on a day of puzzles for punters with Esoterica out yet again to try and get his nose back in front and Wind Shuffle a possibility off bottom weight but we prefer Wigwam Willie. The selection has never yet strung two wins together but that can change today. A winner over 10f at Ripon last time, where he swooped late, Kevin Ryan's gelding relishes cut in the ground, and that should help, along with his now proven stamina, to defy a 4lb rise. Wind Shuffle took a Carlisle handicap on soft ground over a mile last time and is also up 4lb here. That was a first career win in 14 attempts and with Paul Hanagan up and confidence high he is respected. Esoterica again found one too good at Thirsk on Tuesday, but you'd have to say that the ground is against the five-year-old today. Against The Grain loves some cut and although he has yet to prove he gets this trip, his pedigree holds plenty of hope for would-be supporters, though his mark is not quite so appealing. Society Music is back on a handy mark and has won on soft ground and Celtic Step is another who likes juice underfoot and is on a competitive mark. It all makes for a fascinating contest here and we'll be hoping that Wigwam Willie can again emerge victorious.
Wigwam Willie (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) In touch, ridden and headway on inside over 3f out, stayed on to lead last 75 yards, won at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating Intersky Charm (8-13) by a nk, 9 ran.
Against The Grain 7-1 (8-12) Raced far side, tracked leader, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, 4th of 14, 5l behind Redford (8-13) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun.
Emerald Bay (IRE) 10-3 (9-7) Led, headed 2f out, no extra final furlong, last of 5, 5l behind Sunnyside Tom (9-4) at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Wovoka (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 12l behind Tarkheena Prince (8-11) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Jun.
Esoterica (IRE) 7-4fav (9-9) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, edged right under pressure over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd place close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Violent Velocity (9-2) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Society Music (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, soon no extra, weakened final furlong, 8th of 12, 15l behind Flying Valentino (9-7) at Pontefract 1m fll hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Wind Shuffle (GER) 8-1 (8-8) Chased leader, led 3f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, all out, won at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Jun beating Lordship (8-3) by 1l, 15 ran.
Celtic Step 9-2fav (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, hung right and weakened over 1f out, soon eased, 11th of 16, 17l behind Goodbye Mr Bond (9-9) at York 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
