tracked leader, drive over 2f out, kept on well closing stages, no chance with easy winner
tracked leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong
started very slowly, always in rear
held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, chased leaders over 3f out, no impression
keen in touch, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge
made all, keen, drew clear over 1f out, ran on strongly
held up in touch, keen, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
Only the top three in this are racing off their correct mark, which should be an advantage. Star Of The East has already won four times this year and Jane Elliott will probably be forcing the pace to make the most of his stamina. New Society has also been racing over further but did win a qualifier for this here back in April when Question Of Faith, who is also a stayer, was fourth. INDIA is 5lb out of the handicap but only a three-year-old and both victories so far have come over this course and distance. She comfortably beat Ad Libitum in the latest of those and can find the necessary improvement to beat older rivals with the company probably too hot for recent Carlisle winner Snookered and last year’s winner Mr Sundowner facing a much tougher task this time around.
Star Of The East (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, took 2nd near finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Byron Flyer (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
New Society (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Master Archer (10-1) at Chester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Question Of Faith 10-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, driven out, won at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in Sep beating St Andrews (10-2) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Ad Libitum 14-1 (8-10) Always behind, weakened over 2f out, last of 16, 28 1/2l behind Arrowtown (9-3) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Snookered (IRE) 15-8fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead narrowly inside final furlong, just held on, all out, won at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (5) sft in Sep beating Craggaknock (9-10) by nk, 14 ran.
India 10-11fav (8-9) Made all, driven over 2f out, stayed on well, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Ad Libitum (9-1) by 1l, 4 ran.
Mr Sundowner (USA) 50-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway over 4f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, never on terms, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 10 3/4l behind Snookered (9-0) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (5) sft in Sep.
