tracked leading pair, went 2nd on inside halfway until ridden inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
led 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led 2f, tracked leader until halfway, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f
tracked leading trio, switched left 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and strongly pressed inside final furlong, battled on gamely to assert towards finish
slowly away, behind, headway on inside over 2f out, went 2nd and flashed tail entering final furlong, soon every chance, no extra close home
KODIAC PRIDE won over an extended 7f at Beverley so a step up to a mile here won’t be a problem. An opening mark of 83 looks fair so William Haggas’ charge gets the nod. Reeves will handle conditions and is very consistent but is getting no mercy from the assessor as a consequence. Water Diviner’s absence since October is off-putting but he’ll be thereabouts if fully wound-up and makes more appeal than Sophosc, who may be in the handicapper’s grip, and Hawridge Storm.
Reeves 9-2 (9-5) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Brian Epstein (9-5) at Musselburgh 7f hcp (3) gs in Jun.
Kodiac Pride 9-4 (9-5) Made all, ridden over 1f out, soon pressed, held on well towards finish, won at Beverley 7f stks (5) gs in May beating Maydanny (9-5) by 1l, 9 ran.
Water Diviner (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) With leader, led over 2f out, kept on well towards finish, won at Brighton 1m stks (5) gd in Oct beating Wolf Prince (9-2) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Sophosc (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Wedding Blue (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Hawridge Storm (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, never on terms, weakened inside final furlong, 12th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Mawakib (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Jun.