held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression
in rear, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, one pace
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out
led early, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
soon led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Ulysees has taken advantage of some weak looking opposition to win his last two starts and Ian Semple's gelding is likely to find this tougher so preference is for Middlemarch, who gets the vote ahead of Mystical Ayr. The selection stepped up on his reappearance effort when going down by the narrowest of margins to Nevada Desert at Hamilton last time and a reproduction of that effort may well suffice. Dark Charm may well want a softer surface to show his best form, while a market move for Hawkit would be of interest. Linda Perratt's Mystical Ayr looks to be going the right way now and is another to consider but Middlemarch has solid claims and gets the vote.
Dark Charm (FR) 5-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, outpaced over 4f out, stayed on from over 1f out, 5th of 8, 4l behind Go Solo (9-1) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Ulysees (IRE) 9-4fav (10-1) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Hamilton 1m sll (5) gf beating Wiltshire (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Commitment Lecture 5-1 (9-1) Mid-division, weakened 2f out, 8th of 10, 9l behind Rain Stops Play (9-10) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Middlemarch (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway when not clear run 2f out, switched left over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Nevada Desert (9-6) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Hawkit (USA) 12-1 (8-10) Behind, effort over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 6th of 8, 4l behind Lucayan Dancer (9-3) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Jordans Elect 9-2 (8-10) Held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened entering final furlong, 6th of 8, 7l behind Go Solo (9-1) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Oddsmaker (IRE) 13-2 (8-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Maneki Neko (9-0) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcap (4) gf.
Zendaro 22-1 (9-6) Raced centre, led and overall leader, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 8l behind Joy And Pain (8-9) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Mystical Ayr (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon headway and every chance, not pace of winner final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Tidy (9-2) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-60 (6) gd.