behind stand side, headway to lead over 1f out, kept on
led stand side group, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly away, always behind far side group
slowly away, in rear far side group, never dangerous
mid-division stand side group, effort halfway, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders far side group, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
chased leaders far side group, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders stand side group, weakened over 1f out
behind stand side group, never dangerous
chased leaders stand side group, ridden over 2f out, led briefly over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division far side group, effort over 2f out, never dangerous
held up stand side group, effort over 2f out, never dangerous
mid-division stand side group, ridden over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, soon no extra
prominent stand side group, challenged over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders far side group, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on well
always behind far side group
led far side group, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, one pace
mid-division stand side group, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders far side group, weakened over 1f out
behind stand side group, stayed on final 2f
dwelt, behind stand side group, ridden halfway, stayed on final 2f
prominent stand side group, no extra from over 1f out
chased leaders far side group, ridden over 2f out, one pace
towards rear stand side group, ridden and not much room over 2f out, never dangerous
held up stand side group, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest at finish
always behind far side group
in touch stand side group, weakened over 2f out
A high draw is generally preferable to a low one but plenty of horses have won this and Saturday's big race from a middle berth so Ice Planet is hardly badly drawn in stall 16 and is preferred to Mutamared and Roman Maze. The last mentioned bounced back to winning ways over what had looked too long a trip at Chester last time and may do even better back over six furlongs today but he will not find it easy giving weight away all round. Bo McGinty shoulders a 5lb penalty for his win at Carlisle last time and this looks tougher so Johnston's Diamond, who was a comfortable winner despite having unseated his rider on the way to post at Haydock last time, may be of more interest despite his penalty. Rising Shadow is capable but may need some help from the handicapper, while Primo Way did not show much on his recent first outing since leaving the yard of Barry Hills for Ian Semple but would be difficult to rule out completely on the pick of his form. Zomerlust has a difficult draw to overcome, while the well-drawn High Voltage has given little sign of encouragement of late. King's Gait is better berthed than most and remains relatively unexposed, so has to be considered along with the David Nicholls-trained Colonel Cotton, provided that the rain stays away. Mutamared was a narrow winner at Newmarket last time but did not get the best of runs that day and there may be more to come from him but for the selection we return to another of the Nicholls inmates Ice Planet, who was a ready winner of a competitive handicap at Ripon last time. The runner-up in that contest franked the form when second to Ayr Gold Cup fancy Out After Dark in the Portland subsequently so the selection still looks to be well treated despite the rise in the weights and can gain compensation for missing out on a crack at the big race tomorrow.
Roman Maze 16-1 (8-4) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chester 1m hcp (2) gf in Aug beating H Harrison (7-12) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Desert Lord 66-1 (9-4) Chased leaders to halfway stands' side, 22nd of 23, 31l behind Ice Planet (8-7) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 18-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, behind on far side, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous, 10th of 27, 5l behind Gift Horse (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Primo Way 9-1 (9-3) Mid-division, kept on same pace from under 2f out, 9th of 20, 6l behind Kestrel Cross (9-1) at Curragh 1m hcp gd.
Ice Planet 10-1 (8-7) Held up behind leaders far side, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on gamely final furlong, won at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug beating Pieter Brueghel (9-2) by 3l, 23 ran.
Zomerlust 14-1 (8-13) Towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 8th of 12, 6l behind Serre Chevalier (8-10) at Chester 7f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Mutamared (USA) 4-1fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, raced stand side, keen, headway after 2f, shaken up to lead over 1f out, driven out, won at Newmarket 6f hcp (4) gf beating Kingscross (9-0) by a hd, 17 ran.
Bo McGinty (IRE) 11-2fav (9-0) Made all, hung right but stayed on strongly final furlong, won at Carlisle 6f hcp (4) gf beating Prince Namid (8-10) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
High Voltage 20-1 (7-11) Chased leaders on outer, edged left over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 13, 10l behind Intoxicating (8-12) at York 6f hcp (2) gf.
King's Gait 14-1 (8-6) Towards rear, never on terms, 13th of 20, 11l behind Tax Free (8-9) at York 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Handsome Cross (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Led, headed 3f out, soon ridden and weakened, 12th of 13, 13l behind Grigorovitch (8-6) at Musselburgh 5f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Colonel Cotton (IRE) 16-1 (8-3) Raced centre, steadied over 3f out, never near leaders after, 8th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Texas Gold (9-4) at Epsom 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Ellens Academy (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) Towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 15, 6l behind Bo McGinty (9-0) at Carlisle 6f hcp (4) gf.
Golden Dixie (USA) 8-1 (8-12) With leaders stands side group, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 18, nk behind Reverence (8-6) at Doncaster 5f hcp (4) gs.
Machinist (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 11l behind Lord of The East (8-9) at Doncaster 7f hcp (4) gd.
Currency 8-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, weakened approaching final furlong, 10th of 15, 6l behind Bo McGinty (9-0) at Carlisle 6f hcp (4) gf.
Johnston's Diamond (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) With leader, ridden to lead and edged right over 1f out, ran on, won at Haydock 6f stk 0-80 (4) gs beating Vanadium (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Paris Bell 18-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 6th of 15, 4l behind Bo McGinty (9-0) at Carlisle 6f hcp (4) gf.
Raymond's Pride 33-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 12, 10l behind Serre Chevalier (8-10) at Chester 7f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Imperial Echo (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Always behind, 14th of 15, 8l behind Bo McGinty (9-0) at Carlisle 6f hcp (4) gf.
Highland Warrior 40-1 (8-4) Behind, ridden 2f out, stayed on approaching final furlong, 4th of 15, 3l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gd.
Steel Blue 14-1 (9-5) Mid-divison, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 20, 2 1/2l behind Sir Nod (8-7) at York 6f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Border Music 5-1 (8-9) Raced stand side, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on close home, 3rd of 17, nk behind Mutamared (9-2) at Newmarket 6f hcp (4) gf.
Pomfret Lad 9-2jt-fav (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Johnston's Diamond (8-10) at Haydock 6f stk 0-80 (4) gs.
High Ridge 10-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, effort over 1f out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Bo McGinty (9-0) at Carlisle 6f hcp (4) gf.
Circuit Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Held up, ridden 3f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Trafalgar Square (8-13) at Redcar 7f stk 0-75 (4) gf.
Brigadore 13-2 (8-6) Held up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Matty Tun (9-1) at Newmarket 5f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Dizzy In The Head 9-2 (9-1) In touch, disputed lead halfway, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Undeterred (9-0) at Hamilton 6f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
