always towards rear
led, headed 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon challenged and every chance, kept on final furlong, no impression
with leader, pushed along over 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, soon hung left, kept on gamely, held on well towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, soon chased winner, kept on and always held towards finish
BUTHELEZI (NAP) went close to catching Nautilus in a tougher handicap at Newmarket last month with Shrewd five lengths behind. The winner has since gone in again and Brian Ellison's charge can go one better in this. Forced Family Fun has not raced since winning at Newcastle in April while Merchant Of Dubai has won just twice since 2010 with both wins coming at Musselburgh. Lexington Bay won this in 2011 off a higher mark and is preferred to Pressure Point and Thorntoun Care, both recent winners in a lower grade.
Shrewd 33-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden over 2f out, never nearer, 8th of 16, 6l behind Nautilus (9-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Mister Fizz 16-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 14, 7l behind Latenightrequest (8-1) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
Dark Ruler (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 14, 2l behind Latenightrequest (8-1) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
Buthelezi (USA) 15-2 (8-9) Keen tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, effort inside final furlong, gaining on winner near finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Nautilus (9-11) at Newmarket 1m 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Love Marmalade (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 8l behind A Star In My Eye (9-4) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
Merchant Of Dubai 6-5fav (10-0) Zero visibility for first 200 yards, tracked leaders in 3rd, zero visibility from over 8f out until over 5f out when still in 3rd place, went 2nd before 3f out, soon zero visibility until led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gs beating El Bravo (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Lexington Bay (IRE) 10-3 (9-1) Tracked leader, lost place over 2f out, 5th of 6, 11l behind Pintrada (9-4) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Pressure Point 10-1 (9-4) In touch, headway on outer over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd beating Testa Rossa (8-11) by 2l, 7 ran.
Thorntoun Care 4-1 (8-13) Soon led, headed 3f out, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 27l behind William Of Orange (9-0) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Jonny Delta 16-1 (8-13) Held up behind, effort over 2f out, one pace, 8th of 10, 9l behind Alex My Boy (9-1) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug.
Forced Family Fun 3-1fav (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Apr beating Rosie Rebel (9-4) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
