in rear, driven and effort on outside over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, never troubled leaders
held up in touch, ridden to chase leading pair over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, no impression
held up in touch, ridden and outpaced when edged right 2f out, soon no impression, beaten when eased inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge well over 2f out, kept on and every chance until one pace final furlong, not pace of winner
led, headed over 3f out, soon lost place, kept on same pace final 2f
tracked leader, challenged 4f out, led over 3f out, shaken up over 1f out, ridden and ran on well to go clear inside final furlong
held up in 6th, effort on outer when not clear run and switched inside 2f out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never troubled leaders
John Llewellyn's King's Masque is only 2lbs higher than when a narrow winner at Ffos Las earlier this month and he has every chance of following up that success with Jimmy Fortune now taking over in the saddle but the finish may lie between two runners who were last seen out over hurdles in DISHDASHA and Bolanderi, with preference for the former. Alison Thorpe's gelding has been running well over hurdles of late and comes here on the back of having been successful in a handicap at Uttoxeter at the beginning of the month so he looks worth siding with back on the flat off what seems a fair mark. Richard Hannon's Shooting Party gave little sign of encouragement on his reappearance and looks best watched and of more interest may be Stan Moore's Silent Oasis, who made a pleasing return at Leicester recently and she can race off the same mark today. The Hague has more to do off a 5lb higher mark than when a narrow winner at Brighton last month and looks best left out of calculations with a bigger threat likely to come from Andrew Turnell's Bolanderi, who comes here fit from hurdling. His form over timber has not been as good as that of Dishdasha though and Alison Thorpe's gelding looks the one to beat.
Bolanderi (USA) 11-4fav (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Officer In Command (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Dishdasha (IRE) 6-4fav (9-6) Held up in 6th, not clear run, switched left over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, never reached leaders, 4th of 8, 4l behind Filun (8-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar '09.
Silent Oasis 28-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Feathered Crown (8-12) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
The Hague 5-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, joined inside final furlong, driven and all out, won at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr beating Blue Tango (8-13) by hd, 8 ran.
Dove Cottage (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Soon led, ridden and headed well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 14, 13l behind Aurorian (9-5) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
King's Masque 9-2 (8-1) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf beating Mabuya (9-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Apex 14-1 (8-10) Mid-division, headway 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, lost 2 places towards finish, 5th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Compton Blue (9-3) at Bath 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Shooting Party (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3f out, 15th of 16, 31l behind Make Amends (9-1) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
