steadied start, held up in rear, some late headway, never nearer
made all, hard driven over 1f out, ran on strongly
mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never on terms
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
tracked leader, under pressure over 2f out, soon lost place
tracked leader, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on well closing stages
broke well, soon restrained towards rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, nearest finish
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Fidaawy is likely to start favourite in this but just looked as though he was in the handicapper’s grip in his final two starts last year. Storm Rock is better treated but is likely to find the conditions much too quick. Farquhar has a long absence to overcome and new stablemate Ashkoul may need more time to acclimatise but Sam Missile starts the new campaign at the right end of the handicap and should be winning again soon. MARAAKIB had a pipe-opener at Ripon last week and is now 2lb lower than when a close third at York last summer. A repeat of that effort may well suffice, though Hail Clodius has only gone up 2lb since his course and distance second at the start of the month.
Farquhar (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Towards rear, driven and headway towards stands side over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 4th inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 15, 7 1/2l behind Wadi Al Hattawi (9-10) at Newmarket 1m 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Fidaawy 4-1fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 5l behind Storm Rock (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp (2) sft in Sep.
Ashkoul (FR) 13-2 (8-12) Tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, lost 2nd inside final 2f, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Snoano (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Banish (USA) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, one pace when hung right 2f out, soon ridden and lost place no impression final furlong, 7th of 13, 7l behind Sixties Groove (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Just Hiss 7-1 (9-0) Held up, towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Weekend Offender (8-13) at York 1m hcp stks (2) gd in Oct.
Maraakib (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 8th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Uae Prince (9-7) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Marsh Pride 14-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, soon outpaced, rallied on rail inside final furlong, no danger, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind George William (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Sam Missile (IRE) 11-4 (9-4) Towards rear, headway inside final 2f, driven to chase leaders over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Sixties Groove (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Storm Rock 33-1 (8-13) Always in rear, 13th of 14, 19 1/4l behind Big Country (8-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Hail Clodius (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 19, 3/4l behind Archippos (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Wotabreeze (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Raced wide in touch, ridden and weakened 4f out, last of 13, dist behind Be Perfect (9-2) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Apr.
