tracked leaders in 4th, driven to take 3rd 3f out, ridden and effort on outside 2f out, kept on same pace to press for 2nd inside final furlong, no extra when switched inside near finish
chased leading pair, outpaced over 3f out, soon lost place, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression
made all, ridden inside final 2f, stayed on well to go clear final furlong
held up in last pair in touch, outpaced and ridden 2f out, never able to challenge
tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner when hard pressed for 2nd inside final furlong
awkwardly away and slowly into stride, held up in last pair in touch, ridden and outpaced 2f out, never on terms
Phillip Kirby is proving a trainer to follow and his versatile seven-year-old Embsay Crag won by 10 lengths over a longer trip at Pontefract 10 days ago. He should go close again if in the same mood, despite the penalty, but a few of these have similar claims. Silver Samba is on a hat-trick after victories at Chepstow and Haydock and Oisin Murphy again takes off 7lb while the three-year-old Linguine proved he stayed this trip at Catterick. AMPLEFORTH is back in the usual blinkers here having worn a visor when winning easily at Yarmouth but, hopefully, that shouldn't impede his progress and he can defy a 5lb higher mark though Mojolika and Ethics Girl aren't out of this either on their best form.
Silver Samba 11-4 (8-7) Mid-division, headway over 4f out on inner, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, clear over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd beating Merchant Of Dubai (9-3) by 6l, 8 ran.
Ethics Girl (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders on outside, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 9, 15l behind Lemon Pearl (9-0) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Linguine (FR) 11-4 (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, riddeen and headed entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Platinum (9-9) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Mojolika 9-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 7f out, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 8l behind Almagest (10-4) at Beverley 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Ampleforth 7-4fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, hard driven to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Yarmouth 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Green To Gold (9-7) by 4l, 5 ran.
Embsay Crag 8-1 (9-4) Always travelling well, held up, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, pushed clear, eased towards finish, won at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Harvey's Hope (9-6) by 10l, 14 ran.
