led, ridden and strongly pressed from 2f out, kept on well, headed inside final furlong, stayed on
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
mid-division on inside, ridden and weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, pushed along and went 2nd 3f out until approaching final 2f, soon ridden, stayed on to lead inside final furlong
chased leader until pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, closer on outside tracking leaders halfway, went 2nd over 2f out, soon hung left, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, some late headway, never dangerous
held up towards rear, good headway on outside over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, soon every chance, , plugged on in 3rd inside final furlong
Breguet Boy had been building up to a victory following a break and duly obliged at Hamilton. But a 3lb rise puts him on his highest-ever mark unlike stable companion HOWZER BLACK, who is only 1lb higher than when scoring on good to soft at Haydock in June – the latter can concede weight all round. Granite City Doc scored twice at this level on soft going at Hamilton in the summer and is respected but the front-running Al Khabeer hasn't been getting home over the trip. Firewater is on a long losing run but still 5lb higher than his last victory while winning hurdler Camile could find this on the short side nowadays. Ayr Poet has won three races since August but all at Class 6 level and is 3lb higher than when beaten in this grade at Hamilton last time.
Howzer Black (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, still every chance just inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Baryshnikov (9-7) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Breguet Boy (IRE) 4-1 (9-6) Held up in midfield, smooth headway between horses over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on strongly close home, won at Hamilton 1m hcp (5) gs in Sep beating Cruising (9-7) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Granite City Doc 10-1 (9-3) Close up, led 2f out, ridden and wandered around over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Baryshnikov (9-7) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Al Khabeer 7-2 (9-2) Away well, led, pressed 2f out and pushed along, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Valyrian Steel (9-9) at Beverley 1m 2f stks (5) gd in Sep.
Firewater 12-1 (8-10) Midfield, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, faded from over 1f out, 7th of 9, 7l behind Strawberry Rock (9-2) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Ralphy Boy Two (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) Mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 26 3/4l behind Cassy O (9-9) at Ayr 1m hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Royal Regent 12-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 9th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Royal Big Night (9-11) at Ayr 1m hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Camile (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Midfield, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, kept on for 3rd entering final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Blistering Barney (9-7) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Ayr Poet 2-1fav (8-13) Mid-division, wide and headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 4th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Flying Moon (8-12) at Hamilton 1m hcp (5) gd in Sep.