dwelt, took keen hold, held up in rear, closed over 4f out, outpaced over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in 4th, closed from 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed and kept on same pace inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along 5f out, challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged left, stayed on well
held up in rear, struggling 7f out, behind final 5f
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace final 100 yards
Spiritoftomintoul arrives in decent form but hasn't won since 2013 and is 9lb higher in the weights. Saborido looks on a more favourable mark as he returns to action but FLASHMAN is still preferred. The latter landed a course double with a cosy three-length victory over track and trip a fortnight ago and is worth sticking with in his current form. Keep Kicking is not out of this on an earlier course and distance success but 1m4f winner Brassbound still has something to prove over today's distance.
Spiritoftomintoul 5-2fav (10-1) Held up in last, headway over 1f out, driven and edged left inside final furlong, unable to challenge, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Very Good Day (9-7) at Wolverhampton 2m hcap (4) in Jan.
Saborido (USA) 16-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, ridden over 5f out, soon beaten, eased well over 1f out, last of 7, 35l behind Taws (8-3) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Oct.
Flashman 10-3 (9-5) Made all, ridden and edged left over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Chelmsford City 2m hcap (4) pol beating Oratorio's Joy (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Brassbound (USA) 5-2fav (9-6) Led, pushed along 4f out, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 5, 11l behind Very Good Day (9-7) at Wolverhampton 2m hcap (4) in Jan.
Bilidn 5-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, outpaced on outside 2f out, soon ridden, switched inside over 1f out, stayed on to take 4th near finish, never near leaders, 4th of 6, 7l behind Riptide (9-2) at Ffos Las 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Noguchi (IRE) 18-1 (9-1) Took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Aldeburgh (9-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hacp 0-70 (5).
Softsong (FR) 14-1 (9-2) Awkwardly away in rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 7th of 8, 6l behind Persepolis (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Keep Kicking (IRE) 9-2 (9-12) Held up, headway on inner over 1f out, ridden to challenge leader inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Guards Chapel (9-8) at Lingfield 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol.