led, headed 3f out, soon outpaced and weakened 2f out
held up, pushed along 3f out, soon no chance
tracked leaders, taken to outside rail 12f out, joined main group and tracked leader 8f out, taken to wide outside straight, soon every chance, edged left final furlong
held up, struggling 3f out, tailed off
tracked leader to 8f out, led and hung left 3f out, in command final furlong, stayed on
close up until hung right and weakened over 2f out
always prominent, ridden and chance when badly hampered rails well over 1f out, not recover
held up in rear, no chance final 3f
Briareus belied market odds when second to Trouble At Bay at Ascot last time and has to be respected along with easy Thirsk winner Altitude Dancer but there was plenty to like about the way Anak Pekan won at Yarmouth last month and he is taken to follow up. The selection deserved that success having found one well handicapped rival too good in each of his two previous starts and, although the Michael Jarvis-trained colt has gone up another 4lbs, he battled well at Yarmouth and there may be more to come. Briareus deserves to win a race of this nature, especially after his Ascot run, but may again have to settle for minor honours along with Altitude Dancer although the handicapper has raised him 10lbs for his latest success, which seems harsh. Bath maiden winner Skye's Folly is open to improvement but appears to have plenty of weight for his debut in this grade, while Rotheram is becoming frustrating. The same cannot be said of Anak Pekan, who gets the vote.