held up, mistake 1st, headway approaching 8th, ridden and hung left from next, chased winner 3 out to last, no extra flat
chased leader, led 9th, clear next, pushed out
led, mistake 6th, hit next, headed 9th, soon ridden, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
always towards rear, behind when pulled up before 8th
chased leaders to 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always behind
Absolut Power, Explosive Fox and Irish Wolf are the three against the field in the opener with the vote going to the last named. A winner on his racecourse debut at Southwell Irish Wolf looks a horse with a promising future. He beat Red Moor very convincingly that day and with further improvement likely he will take all the beating. Absolut Power has been running consistently well all summer finishing a frustrating second on four separate occasions. He did manage to get his head in front at Worcester back in June but he always seems to find one too good and it might be the same for him again this time. Explosive Fox won around here in July then put in a couple of poor performances before getting back to form when second at Worcester last time out. Any market support for him should be noted but for the winner we return to Irish Wolf.
Irish Wolf (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Southwell 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug beating Red Moor (11-5) by 3l, 8 ran.
Absolut Power (GER) 15-8fav (11-1) Held up in touch, went 2nd 3 out, every chance 2 out, not quicken flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Romany Prince (11-8) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (C) gf in Aug.
Explosive Fox (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Chased winner, every chance approaching 2 out, soon driven and outpaced, kept on flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Kilindini (11-3) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug.
Blazing The Trail (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, closer order 5th, weakened 7th, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Boulevardofdreams (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (E) gd in May, 13 ran.
Sonic Sound 5-1 (10-7) In touch, joined leaders 4th, went right and reminders next, outpaced 3 out, went poor 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Borehill Joker (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hdl (G) gf in May.
Vesta Flame 33-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, well behind Wally Wonder (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf in Aug.
