led far side, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leader stands side, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders stands side, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd place close home
mid-division stands side, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression
mid-division far side, headway over 2f out, faded inside final furlong
chased leaders stands side, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on and went 2nd close home
chased leaders far side, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch stands side, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, stayed on
chased leaders stands side, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
mid-division far side, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish
towards rear stands side, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
in touch stands side, ridden and weakened over 1f out
towards rear stands side, ridden over 1f out, never a factor
mid-division far side, weakened over 2f out
towards rear stands side, ridden over 1f out, kept on and no impression
behind far side, ridden and headway over 1f out to chase leaders, weakened inside final furlong
in touch stands side, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened
behind stands side, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
led stands side and overall leader, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
mid-division stands side, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
mid-division stands side, weakened over 2f out
in rear far side, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leader far side, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division stands side, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
Last year's winner was drawn 27 of the 27 runners and all the placed horses were berthed high. Cruise Tothelimit is on the exact opposite side of the track as he attempts a hat-trick and an 8lb penalty will be very difficult to overcome. Searchlight is drawn high but his recent victories came over the minimum trip as did Expose's victory at Doncaster for which he has a 5lb penalty. Bajan Bear hasn't won at this sort of level nor has Gran Canaria Queen though the latter is running well and can get into the action. Ambitious Icarus gets into the line-up by virtue of a last-gasp victory at Beverley on Wednesday where he came with a sustained run over that stiff 5f so this looks ideal. LAYLA'S HERO was conceding 9lb to Baron Run when beaten less than a length at Hamilton recently. Dandy Nicholls' charge goes well here and has a decent weight advantage with the winner and, though both are drawn low, the going is much quicker than a year ago and it could be the place to be so he's handed the vote. Polski Max and Gatepost are others to consider in a wide-open handicap.
Cruise Tothelimit (IRE) 7-2fav (9-6) Led, hard driven over 2f out, strongly challenged over 1f out, held on gamely, won at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs beating Teetotal (8-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Searchlight 16-1 (8-6) With leaders, ridden and kept on same inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 12th of 16, 7l behind Online Alexander (8-13) at York 5f (2) gd in Aug.
My Name Is Rio (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Raced far side and chased leader in group, led that group over 1f out, no chance with near side, 7th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Compton Park (9-12) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
Mississippi 10-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 18, 2l behind Shore Step (9-7) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Jack Luey 9-1 (8-9) Behind, driven 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Go Far (9-3) at Doncaster 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug.
Iseemist (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Midfield, hampered over 2f out, headway to challenge over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 6l behind Mr Win (9-0) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Gatepost (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, every chance when carried left over 1f out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Athletic (8-7) at Chester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Expose 25-1 (8-8) Held up, headway over 1f out, led inside final 100 yards, ran on, won at Doncaster 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gd beating Pea Shooter (9-0) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Mishaal (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, kept on under pressure final furlong, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Triple Chocolate (9-3) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Rasaman (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, kept on, held when carried left towards finish, 5th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Cruise Tothelimit (8-13) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Chester Aristocrat 25-1 (9-4) Held up behind, outpaced 2f out, never able to challenge, 8th of 9, 12l behind Triple Chocolate (9-3) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Stonefield Flyer 33-1 (9-6) Raced wide in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 15, 18l behind Related (9-6) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Gold Beau (FR) 50-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 16l behind Aqua Ardens (9-10) at Epsom Downs 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Fitz Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Prominent, every chance over 2f out, faded final furlong, 8th of 10, 6l behind Cruise Tothelimit (9-6) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Rothesay Chancer 33-1 (9-1) Raced near side, held up, never on terms, 12th of 18, 8l behind Compton Park (9-12) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
Bajan Bear 9-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, some headway from over 1f out, never dangerous, 12th of 18, 6l behind Shore Step (9-7) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Gran Canaria Queen 10-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Baron Run (8-10) at Hamilton 6f hcp (3) gs.
Mon Brav 8-1 (9-5) Towards rear, outpaced 2f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never near leaders, 8th of 12, 7l behind Triple Chocolate (9-1) at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Dissent (IRE) 5-2 (9-7) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders on outside, went 2nd 2f briefly out, no impression on leading pair when lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4l behind Brother Tiger (9-4) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Aug.
Ralphy Boy (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Led, clear over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra close home, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Gift Of Silence (10-7) at Chester 1m (4) gd.
Ambitious Icarus 5-1 (9-6) Tried to anticapate start and slightly awkwardly away, towards rear, ridden 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, led close home, won at Beverley 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Tweety Pie (8-13) by nk, 9 ran.
Layla's Hero (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Baron Run (8-10) at Hamilton 6f hcp (3) gs.
Baron Run 5-1fav (8-10) Made all, ridden over 1f out, held on well, won at Hamilton 6f hcp (3) gs beating Layla's Hero (9-5) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Midnight Dynamo 8-1 (9-7) Raced wide, always towards rear, 7th of 9, 7l behind Noble Asset (9-4) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Polski Max 14-1 (8-8) Raced stand side, chased leaders, every chance over 2f out, kept on well under pressure, 4th of 20, 3/4l behind Duke Cosimo (9-2) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Galvanize 14-1 (8-9) Led early, tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 8l behind Provenance (9-4) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug.
Showboating (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Slowly away, in rear, pushed along over 3f out, never a factor, 10th of 11, 7l behind Comino (8-9) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
