keen led, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
in rear, saddle slipped badly after 5f, never a factor
in touch, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, ran on, not reach winner
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never nearer
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
Castilo Del Diablo is looking to go one better than last year and when runner-up to Ridgeway Storm and is 2lb lower. Haines has been raised 4lb after finishing second over 2m in this grade at Wolverhampton while Cotton Club is upped in class having won over 1m6f at Chelmsford last time. But HAMELIN makes most appeal back in a handicap having faced tough tasks behind the likes of Fire Fighting and Anglophile in conditions races and he gets the nod to confirm latest running with Flashman. Highland Castle has a shout on his fourth over today's trip at Ascot in July while Gavlar landed a double over course and distance in August but in lower Class 4 company.
Hamelin (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders until went 2nd after 4f, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Anglophile (9-2) at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Jan.
Highland Castle 7-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 10th of 15, 10l behind Heartbreak City (8-4) at York 2m hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Castilo Del Diablo (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) In rear, ridden and plenty to do 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 12, 4 3/4l behind Barsanti (8-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Gavlar 20-1 (8-9) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 13th of 34, 5 1/2l behind Grumeti (8-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Flashman 7-1 (10-2) Prominent, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Karinga Dancer (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Cotton Club (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Towards rear, very wide into straight 2f out, headway entering final furlong, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb beating Oratorio's Joy (9-7) by 1l, 9 ran.
Handiwork 100-1 (11-10) Held towards rear on outside, headway 5th, ridden after normal 2 out, weakened before omitted last, 13th of 24, 24l behind Ibis Du Rheu (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Haines 15-2 (8-7) In touch, headway 2f out, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, soon edged left, ridden and ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Sunblazer (9-1) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (2) pol in Feb.