led after 1f , joined 4f out, driven and headed when hampered well over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with leading pair final furlong
led 1f, tracked leader, headway on outside to challenge well over 3f out, lost place 2f out, ridden and no impression from over 1f out
dwelt, in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, kept on until headed towards finish, just held
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, no impression
held up towards rear, in touch, edged left 8f out, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace from over 1f out, never able to challenge
keen early, tracked leaders on inside, switched right to challenge 4f out, ridden to lead when edged left well over 1f out, headed narrowly over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong to lead again towards finish, held on
raced keenly, held up behind when hampered 8f out, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on same pace, never on terms
MORANA may take what doesn't look the strongest renewal of the Chester Vase; Rocket Man and Critical Moment may follow him home. Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt won the Autumn Stakes last year before finishing a creditable fifth in the Racing Post Trophy and is a horse who should do better now sent over a trip. He ran well enough in the Craven on his comeback and his trainer expects the son of Alhaarth to have come on a bundle for the run. Rocket Man represents last year's winning connections and should continue to progress but this Derby entrant isn't one of the stable's leading Epsom hopes and may be being used to measure the quality of the opposition. Critical Moment represents a yard that does very well at Chester and was in fact ahead of our selection in the Craven, but he was expected to be ready to roll on that occasion and may find the Chapple-Hyam colt improving past him. Icon Dream is an interesting runner for a yard that don't send many across to these shores but he needs to come on plenty for his Ballysax run whilst the admirable Tominator will surely find a few too good. Chink Of Light is tried in a visor and is well thought of but may have to venture overseas for Group glory and this prize can instead go to Newmarket and Morana.
Chink Of Light 11-4 (9-6) Raced wide in 4th until joined main group 9f out, pushed along approaching straight, headway to 3rd 3f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, stayed on as winner hung right inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Into Wain (8-13) at Ffos Las 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.
Critical Moment (USA) 12-1 (8-12) Raced wide of the field until joined leaders halway, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on, soon outpaced by winner, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Elusive Pimpernel (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Icon Dream (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Dwelt, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 3f out, kept on on outer final furlong, 6th of 8, 2l behind Puncher Clynch (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 gf in Apr.
Morana (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 9l behind Elusive Pimpernel (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Rocket Man (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Prominent, 5th under 2f out, soon switched inside to rail, led under pressure under 1f out and stayed on well, won at Curragh 1m 2f mdn stks hvy in Apr beating Captainofthefleet (9-5) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ted Spread 5-1 (9-0) Held up, took keen hold, headway 3f out, soon ridden, not quicken over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to take 3rd post, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Take It To The Max (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f 2yo stk (2) gd in Oct.
Tominator 20-1 (9-2) Led, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 8, shd behind Gallic Star (8-11) at Pontefract 1m 2yo Listed stks (1) gf in Oct.
