held up in touch, ridden and headway to chase leading pair 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
always prominent, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on
switch left soon after start, raced alone near far side rail, in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
in rear, never near leaders
held up, slightly hampered over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
mid-division, headway and switched right over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
never better than mid-division
never near leaders
keen in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out
never better than mid-division
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and hung left from 2f out, never nearer
led until over 3f out
always towards rear
held up towards rear, ridden headway and switched right over 2f out, kept on one pace
keen chased leaders, led over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on
The rain that has fallen will suit SMOKEY OAKEY and the 2008 winner can regain his title at the main expense of Collateral Damage, Mull Of Killough and Penitent. Mark Tompkins' gelding is now just 2lb higher than when winning this a couple of years ago and he should appreciate the drop in grade. Jimmy Quinn knows him well and the pair should run a big race at generous odds. Collateral Damage was the first name drawn out of the hat and has been drawn in stall 16. There looks to be plenty of pace in that section of the draw and this progressive gelding won six of his final seven starts last season. As a result his mark is at a career high but with the ground and straight track in his favour he should go close. He beat Mia's Boy last time, and the top-weight was fourth in this race 12 months ago, whilst Vitznau won the recent trial at Wolverhampton (worth £31,000) but his profile is not one of utmost consistency. Dubai's Touch looks poorly handicapped but has landed stall nine (horses won both this race and the Spring Mile from that stall last year), Doctor Crane has traded at big prices this week but cannot be overlooked if handling the ground, whilst Advanced is more known for his sprinting exploits. The ground should suit Reve De Nuit who has been overlooked in the build up to the race, as to some extent have the Richard Fahey battalion. Jockey Bookings suggest that the pick of his runners is Albaqaa and although he hasn't won for a while, his record in the spring is very solid. No yard had a better season than that of David Evans last year so Full Toss is considered now dropped in grade, but more obvious dangers are Mull Of Killough and Tiger Reigns. They are closely linked on a Haydock run last season but both are very progressive and it would be no surprise to see either hit the frame. Huzzah represents a yard with a cracking record in this race and is overpriced at present, whilst Viva Vettori won smartly last month and is considered under a penalty. The favourite Penitent represents a yard that has had success in the past with targeting big Saturday handicaps with Group horses. This son of Kyllachy should be respected despite a new mark of 98 and given his good second to Russian Spirit here on debut on soft ground he looks an obvious danger. Given his Kempton victor Khor Dubai has struggled since off marks in the low 100's, the feeling is that he will need to have improved to win this. In theory his draw in stall one is advantageous but looking at the pace in the race I'd rather be drawn in double figures. That's entirely feasible of course, but at the odds we'll side with the proven Smokey Oakey.
Mia's Boy 11-4fav (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden to challenge 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Dunelight (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol.
Advanced 6-1 (9-0) Steadied start, keen and in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Dalradian (9-3) at Lingfield 1m cnd stks (4yo+) (3) pol in Feb.
Extraterrestrial 33-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, travelled strongly, headway under pressure from well over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, no extra close home, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Vitznau (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Penitent 5-1fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, headway when not clear run over 2f out, ridden to go 2nd over 1f out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Sovereign Remedy (8-12) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Oct.
Dubai's Touch 7-1 (9-8) Tracked leader, switched left to challenge 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 14l behind We'll Come (9-12) at Ascot 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Vitznau (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, hard ridden, ran on to lead inside final furlong, redily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol beating Fanunalter (9-3) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Smokey Oakey (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Held up in touch, stayed far side over 4f out, ridden 3f out, joined centre group over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 6l behind Alexandros (8-10) at Nottingham 1m cond Stakes (2) sft in Nov.
Collateral Damage (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Towards rear, switched left and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) sft in Nov beating Mia's Boy (9-5) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
Mull Of Killough (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, came centre over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on, won at Haydock 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sep beating Light From Mars (9-2) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Reve De Nuit (USA) 16-1 (9-0) In touch, outpaced 2f out, ridden, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 7l behind Viva Vettori (9-0) at Kempton 1m Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol in Feb.
Albaqaa 12-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, keen hold, hard ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Vitznau (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Harrison George (IRE) 8-1fav (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 20, 6l behind Light From Mars (8-13) at York 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Lang Shining (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Towards rear, kept on over 1f out, no impression, 7th of 12, 6l behind Extraterrestrial (9-2) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep.
Full Toss 50-1 (9-0) Always in rear, 10th of 13, 8l behind Tranquil Tiger (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f Group 3 (1) pol.
Ishetoo 9-2fav (8-13) Slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden 2f out, never able to challenge, 7th of 15, 6l behind The Nifty Fox (8-6) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Oct.
Tiger Reigns 6-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Extraterrestrial (9-2) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep.
Huzzah (IRE) 11-1 (9-6) Always towards rear, 9th of 15, 9l behind Prince Of Dance (9-2) at Salisbury 1m hcp 105 (2) sft in Oct.
Kaolak (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Led 1f, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 7l behind Buxted (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol.
Mister Hardy 12-1 (8-12) Mid-division, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 20, 8l behind Collateral Damage (8-11) at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) sft in Nov.
Viva Vettori 8-1 (9-0) In touch, headway 2f out, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol in Feb beating Black Dahlia (8-9) by 2l, 12 ran.
Prime Exhibit 6-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened final furlong, 6th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Tiddliwinks (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Doctor Crane (USA) 9-1 (9-4) Raced alone on far side and well on terms, driven to lead inside final furlong, edged left, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May beating Hyades (9-1) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
