steadied start, held up intouch, effort to challenge leading pair 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
tracked winner, ridden to challenge 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, headed final 50 yards
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, dismounted after finish
led, pressed from 2f out, ridden and headed narrowly inside final furlong, rallied to lead again final 50 yards
General Eliott looks best off at the weights here but is probably not one to be taking too short-a-price about and MOODY TUNES is suggested as an alternative, while Bolodenka and Plush have frame claims. The last-named has won seven times but all of those have come on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton. He stays this trip very well but has to prove himself on the green stuff. Bolodenka goes on any ground and has his optimum trip today. He has 10lbs to find with General Eliott compared to if this were a handicap and may be able to bridge a substantial amount of that without winning. General Eliott has not yet shown any form unless there has been cut in the ground and so has it to prove on this going. The trip and track may have been against him last time but he is still risky enough as a betting proposition so we'll side with Moody Tunes. The John Weymes-trained selection also acts on any ground and is best over this distance of a mile. He will find it easier than the tough handicap he contested at York and is taken to score.
Plush 3-1 (9-8) In rear, bumped along over 3f out, ridden and headway approaching 1f out, edged left and kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Calahonda (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol in May.
Bolodenka (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Held up in 4th until headway to track winner over 5f out, challenged 3f out to 2f out, soon ridden and outpaced, lost place inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 4l behind Fremen (9-8) at Musselburgh 1m 1f sell stks (4) gf in Jun.
True Union (USA) 33-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, lost place 5f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 7, well behind Ebiayn (10-0) at Kempton 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Moody Tunes 50-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, effort well over 2f out, soon lost place, 10th of 13, 9l behind Distant Memories (9-13) at York 1m 1f hcp 105 (2) gd in Jun.
Always Gunner 150-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 10th of 11, well behind Zelloof (8-12) at Southwell 7f 2yo mdn stks (4) fbs in Oct '08.
General Eliott (IRE) 11-4 (9-13) Held up in 4th, lost place over 4f out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 34l behind Lang Shining (9-6) at Chester 1m 2f clm stks (5) gf in Jun.
