held up in touch, headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up mid-division, weakened final furlong
soon led, headed approaching 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on well to lead towards finish
held up behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
held up towards rear,ridden over 1f out, no impression
led early, tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, led approaching 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
held up mid-division, headway to lead over 1f out, headed towards finish
towards rear, some late headway final furlong, stayed on, never a factor
slowly into stride, towards rear, never dangerous
Mark Johnston's Mannlichen has disappointed in previous starts on turf and seems better on artificial surfaces so looks best watched in a race taken to go to KING FINGAL, who is preferred to Baltimore Jack. Tim Walford's gelding was narrowly beaten by Arashi at Leicester recently and has solid claims off just a 3lb higher mark so he has to be considered along with stable companion Ubi Ace, who has only had the three runs so far and makes his belated return to action having not been seen since disappointing in a nursery in October 2008. Richard Whittaker's Nevada Desert seems plenty high enough in the weights at present, while Tim Easterby's Amethyst Dawn has failed to stay this far in the past and may do so again. Alan Swinbank's Wrongwayround came good when landing a Ripon seller last month but this is tougher and of more interest may be recent Southwell winner Hydrant, who returns to turf on a fair mark. Preference though is for John Quinn's King Fingal, who should appreciate the drop back in trip having not seemingly stayed 1m4f at Pontefract last month when running well when chasing home Woody Waller and he can go one better today.
Mannlichen 8-11fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led over 8f out, ridden 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Aurorian (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Nevada Desert (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Mid-division on outer, weakened over 1f out, soon eased, last of 13, 30l behind Wing Play (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Oct.
River Ardeche 33-1 (8-11) With leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 17l behind Russian George (9-2) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Apr.
King Fingal (IRE) 4-1fav (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway on outer over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Woody Waller (9-1) at Pontefract 1m 4f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Andhaar 4-1fav (9-5) In touch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Sir Royal (9-3) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Baltimore Jack (IRE) 85-40fav (9-4) Led, headed over 2fout, rallied over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, ns behind Arashi (8-8) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr.
Ubi Ace 7-1 (8-12) Behind, ridden 4f out, never on terms, last of 12, 22l behind Digger Derek (7-13) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct '08.
Wrongwayround (IRE) 5-2fav (9-10) Mid-division, headway to track leader 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well to go clear inside final furlong, won at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo sll (5) gf in Apr beating Sultan's Choice (7-13) by 5l, 9 ran.
Hydrant 11-4 (9-7) Led, headed over 9f out, tracked leader until 5f out, in touch, ridden and switched right 2f out, soon hung left, driven and ran on to lead post, won at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stks (5) fbs in Feb beating Hunters Belt (10-0) by shd, 8 ran.
Amethyst Dawn (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Raced wide in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind King of The Moors (9-2) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr.
General Tufto 11-2 (9-1) In rear, pushed along halfway, outpaced over 3f out, driven and stayed on to 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Just Five (9-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Apr.
Herrera (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 10th of 14, 10l behind Crocus Rose (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Maybeme 10-1 (8-3) Dwelt, held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon hung left and no impression, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Nevada Desert (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Oct.
