led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, lost touch over 4f out
tracked leaders early, took keen hold, lost place over 5f out, not much room well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, ran on
took keen hold, soon prominent, pushed along over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, not clear run from over 2f out until inside final furlong, edged right and ran on towards finish
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, not much room inside final furlong, ran on, just held
fly jumped leaving stalls, mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led entering final furlong, held on
held up in rear, some headway on inside 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, shaken up over 2f out, headway on outside 1f out, ran on, nearest finish
Powerful Pierre usually runs his race at this track, but keeps finding at least one too good and it was the same story earlier this month when today's rival THINKING got the better of him. The latter remains on a winning mark, despite a 5lb rise, and can post a follow-up. Positivity and Just The Tonic have a bit to find with the selection on latest running and Azimuth looks a bigger threat as he continues to slide down the weights. Xpres Maite has also dropped down the handicap but hasn't won for over two years now and is hard to fancy.
Azimuth (USA) 14-1 (8-9) Led, driven over 3f out, soon strongly challenged, headed over 1f out, faded, last of 8, 6l behind Bourne (9-5) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Boy Blue 12-1 (8-7) Started slowly, in rear, ridden and no progress over 2f out, 5th of 6, 8l behind Resuscitator (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Powerful Pierre 11-2 (8-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, led 1f out, soon headed, no extra and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Striker Torres (8-9) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Just The Tonic 33-1 (9-5) Held up in last quartet, headway on inside well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 11, 5l behind Thinking (8-8) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Xpres Maite 7-1 (8-12) Led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 12, 5l behind Aussie Blue (8-11) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.
Nicholas Pocock (IRE) 11-4 (9-7) Held up behind in touch, switched outside over 4f out, short lived effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, soon eased, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Powerful Presence (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan.
Thinking 6-1 (8-8) Led until narrowly headed entering final 5f, led again over 2f out, hard driven inside final furlong, held on gamely close home, all out, won at Beverley 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Powerful Pierre (9-1) by ns, 11 ran.
Positivity 15-2 (9-1) Took keen hold, chased leading trio, ridden 3f out, driven and one pace when hung right inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 5l behind Thinking (8-8) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Kheskianto (IRE) 20-1 (8-2) Held up in 5th and off the pace, headway on inside over 3f out, 4th and no impression over 1f out, 4th of 9, 11l behind Cane Cat (8-12) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Eeny Mac (IRE) 7-1 (8-7) In touch on inside, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, 8th of 11, 7l behind Blue Charm (8-7) at Southwell 7f hcp (0-55) (6) fbs in May.
Mutamaleq (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Chased leaders on outer, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 11l behind Burns Night (9-7) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May.
