close up, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out
chased clear leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
in rear, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
led and soon clear, reduced lead 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
Nonrunner
Gannicus, who won from just 1lb lower over the course and distance in 2015 and has Jenny Powell back in the saddle, pops up every now and then and this could be a going day. Andalusite gained his first ever victory on his 16th start at Brighton but has a 5lb rise to overcome so the vote goes to ALMANACK. He took advantage of very firm ground and Serena Brotherton's handling in an amateurs' contest at Salisbury and is still 10lb lower than his all-weather mark. The experienced Brazil-based Irineu Goncalves rode his first UK winner when Caledonia Laird scored at Wolverhampton last month and Jo Hughes' charge has also won here so should be respected.
Gannicus 66-1 (10-8) Never better than mid-division, dropped to last and struggling before 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind River Frost (10-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Hot Mustard 13-2 (9-4) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, outpaced by leaders from over 1f out, 5th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Zlatan (9-2) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Caledonia Laird 6-1 (9-5) Keen in touch, headway entering final furlong, ridden and soon led, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Apr beating Miss Goldsmith (9-6) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Mister Musicmaster 6-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Almanack (9-12) at Salisbury 7f hcp (6) fm in Apr.
Andalusite 5-1 (9-6) Raced keenly, made most, clear over 1f out, ridden and ran on well, won at Brighton 1m stks (6) gf in Apr beating Ettie Hart (9-6) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Langham 7-1 (9-6) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 5th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Spinwheel (8-9) at Newcastle 7f hcp fll (5) pol in Feb.
Almanack 13-8fav (9-12) In touch, headway to press leaders over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden clear entering final furlong, won at Salisbury 7f hcp (6) fm in Apr beating Living Leader (9-12) by 6l, 9 ran.