in touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, no impression
made all, pushed along over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, ridden towards finish, gamely
tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
raced wide, close up, pushed along 2f out, kept on same pace
slow into stride, in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
in rear, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms
tracked winner, pushed along over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
slowly away, in touch in rear, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms
Judgment Call had Classy Al back in third when winning a lower grade contest over track and trip while Touchwood is another upped in class after placing at Musselburgh. Manigordo landed a double at the latter track last year and will be sharper for a recent comeback while How Impressive can do better on this faster ground but DARKNESS (NAP) gets the vote. The latter struggled in the Victoria Cup at Ascot last time but ran well in a tougher handicap at Newmarket before that and is 2lb lower for this.
Darkness (FR) 25-1 (8-6) Raced far side, held up in last pair, never a factor, 14th of 22, 9 3/4l behind Rebel Territory (9-1) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) sft in May.
Espressoo 10-3 (9-10) Prominent, pushed along over 2f out, weakened tamely well over 1f out, 9th of 10, 21l behind Queenlet (9-6) at Musselburgh 7f hcp fll (3) gs in Oct.
Manigordo (USA) 25-1 (9-8) Prominent, driven over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 5l behind On A Session (9-12) at Musselburgh 7f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
How Impressive (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) In touch, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 4 3/4l behind Mountbatten (9-8) at Doncaster 7f hcp (4) sft in May.
Touchwood (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Raced keenly in rear, good headway out wide over 1f out, ran on strongly towards finish, not quite get up, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Bicep (9-6) at Musselburgh 7f hcp (5) gd in May.
Black Friday 7-2 (9-11) Held up tracking leaders in 5th, headway far side of group inside final 2f, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Little Muddy (9-4) at Ayr 6f hcp (5) gd in May.
Judgment Call 5-2fav (9-11) Made all, quickened pace approaching final furlong, soon 3 lengths clear, idled towards finish, won at Ayr 7f hcp (5) gf in May beating Novak (9-6) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Classy Al 9-2 (9-9) Slowly away, in rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on towards finish, just failed to go 2nd, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Judgment Call (9-11) at Ayr 7f hcp (5) gf in May.