always behind
in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden 5f out, soon weakened
slowly to stride, towards rear, ridden and switched right over 1f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, headway 3f out, soon ridden, ran on, not trouble winner
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, eased over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
switched left soon after start, always behind
prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
behind, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on
always towards rear, never dangerous.
With no less than 16 declared to run it does not look an easy task to sort out the winner, but Muhareb and Compton Commander can go well, while Martin House and Linning Wine will have their supporters, and of the quartet we go for Compton Commander. Gerard Butler's five-year-old can pull a bit hard sometimes and that contributed to his downfall in this very contest 12 months ago. On that occasion he finished fifth, a place behind The Glen, but meets that rival on 3lb better terms here. Winner of the Cheshire Regiment Handicap here two years ago, the second of his two victories at Chester, the son of Barathea has been confined to the all-weather of late, but this return to a track that he handles so well can bring a welcome return to the winner's enclosure, with Johhny Murtagh in the plate. Muhareb has the assistance of Frankie Dettori and will make his presence felt, but he needs a mile and a half to be seen at his best. Clive Brittain's charge was a close third over that trip in the Royal Bank Of Scotland Handicap at this fixture last year. Kieren Fallon teams up with Linning Wine, while Kevin Darley gets the leg up on Martin House, lowly drawn and sure to be all the better for his recent return to the fray.