led, pushed along 2f out, faced strong challenge 1f out, kept on gamely, headed final strides
mid-division, pushed along 2f out, soon outpaced and beaten
tracked leaders, pushed along and headway to strongly press leader 1f out, ran on well to lead final strides
prominent, ridden well over 1f out, soon weakened
towards rear, pushed along 2f out, stayed on and took 3rd well inside last, no chance with front pair
in rear, pushed along and well held over 1f out
NonRunner
UNLIMITED beat a previous winner at Newbury on his handicap debut and can defy a penalty over this extra furlong. The progressive Finest Leader landed a hat-trick when successful under William Buick at Newmarket but Nottingham winner Miss Dolly Rocker found one too good on her handicap bow. Palio goes handicapping for the first time and has a shout but Lion Kingdom is proving unpredictable and extra headgear is applied.
Finest Leader (IRE) 6-4fav (9-6) Keen tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven out, won at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Cap Francais (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Lion Kingdom 5-1 (9-5) Raced wide in mid-division, headway out wide tracking leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 13, 20 1/4l behind El Jasor (9-2) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Unlimited (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Slowly away, took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, pushed out, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Khinjani (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Palio (IRE) 9-4 (9-3) Tracked clear winner, closed halfway, pushed along 2f out, outpaced by winner final furlong, 2nd of 3, 6 1/2l behind Campaign Trail (9-3) at Catterick 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gs in Jul.
Charlie's Choice 9-1 (9-7) Held up in 4th, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced and weakened soon after, last of 5, 37 1/2l behind Understated (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2f stks (5) sft in Apr.
Sea Urchin (FR) 14-1 (9-11) Held up, wide and headway 4f out, soon tracked leaders, ridden and weakening when short of room over 1f out, 9th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Lady Of Arabia (9-8) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Miss Dolly Rocker 13-2 (8-9) Prominent, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Totnes (9-4) at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Aug.