keen tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, no impression
reluctant to leave stalls and lost all chance, detached
close up in 4th, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression
made all, pushed along over 2f out, 3 lengths clear over 1f out, pushed out
tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, no impression
Nonrunner
Megalala rattled home by an unchallenged nine lengths here 12 days ago to earn a 16th success from 110 career starts. The handicapper has taken a dim view of that runaway success, however, and hit him with a 7lb rise. He'll be hard to peg back if repeating the dose here, although another doughty veteran in Salient also arrives in great heart after just being nabbed late on at Lingfield recently. However, we'll take a chance that MINSTREL'S GALLERY could just spoil the party, despite top weight. The lightly-raced 5-year-old has performed with credit on all starts this year, may have improvement to come and is better than the bare form of his latest Yarmouth effort suggests.
Minstrels Gallery (IRE) 7-4fav (8-10) Towards rear, never troubled leaders, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ela Goog La Mou (8-4) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Apr.
Dazzling Valentine 12-1 (7-13) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 5, 16l behind Licence To Till (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol in Apr.
Dark And Dangerous (IRE) 11-4 (9-12) Tracked leaders, chased winner 5f out, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Authentication (8-13) at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Sep '12.
Megalala (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Made all, 7 lengths clear over 4f out, hard driven over 2f out, ran on strongly, won at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Apr beating Nelson Quay (9-7) by 9l, 13 ran.
Salient 8-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, quick move on wide outside to chase leaders 7f out, led 3f out, kicked clear and went for home 2f out, over 3 lengths ahead 1f out, driven inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Black Minstrel (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Apr.
Monopoli 6-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along over 2f out, soon chased leader, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 12l behind Calm Attitude (8-13) at Chepstow 1m 2f fll hcp (0-75) (5) sft.