droped into rear on leaving stalls, progress on inside over 3f out, challenge winner and hung left 1f out, driven and no impression inside final furlong
made all, set searching gallop, soon 4 lengths clear, ridden hung left and pressed 2f out, and again entering final furlong, driven and responded well
close up, effort 3f out, driven and weakend over 1f out
chased winner, challenged and every chance 2f out, weakened approaching 1f out
A race that used to be run at York, but returned north of the border a few years ago, and LAYALI AL ANDALUS can make his class tell, while Admission and Prizefighting look serious contenders. The selection won a maiden and a handicap last summer and then put up an excellent effort to finish within a length of current Derby favourite St Nicholas Abbey over a mile at The Curragh in a Group 2. We can put a line through his last run on heavy ground and he should have the class to win this now stepped up in trip. Prizefighting looked in need of the run when beaten in Listed company at Newmarket's Craven meeting and was tried in a Group 1 last year, so he looks likely to be up to this grade with a run under his belt and he is respected. Michael Bell is another trainer sending one on the long trip north, saddling Admission, who won a Yarmouth maiden on debut and went well in a conditions contest at Newbury over this trip next time. Clearly improving, he is entitled to give them all something to think about. Corsica is improving and also well-placed by Mark Johnston, though he has plenty more to find to get competitive here. Take It To The Max has achieved more than him on the racecourse, but for today Layali Al Andalus looks the one to be on.
Admission 7-2 (8-13) Led, went sharply left and hampered rival after start, settled 3rd soon after, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd last stride, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Myplacelater (8-3) at Newbury 1m 2f con stks (3) gd in Apr.
Corsica (IRE) 4-7fav (9-7) Made all, hung right and wide on 1st turn, ridden well over 1f out, in command over 1f out, stayed on strongly, ridden out, won at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr beating Fairy Flight (9-1) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Layali Al Andalus (8-13) Led to over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 9, 24l behind Passion For Gold (8-13) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m 2f 2yo Grp 1 hvy in Nov.
Take It To The Max 28-1 (9-0) Led, pushed along and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 13l behind Chabal (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Prizefighting (USA) 7-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 9, 16l behind Rumoush (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 1f 3yo Listed stks (1) gd in Apr.
