led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened inside final furlong
fly jumped start, in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on to chase winner inside final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, took keen hold, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
close up, led over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on strongly inside final furlong
The consistent SALEH has been placed in both starts since winning here in January and Lee Carter’s charge should be bang there at the finish once again. Varsovian has won seven times on the all-weather but all of those wins came over 6f and Highly Sprung is another yet to win over today’s distance. Until Midnight still looks high enough in the weights but Black Bess has a chance off her current mark as she returns to action and is preferred of the remainder.
Highly Sprung (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Tracked leader stand side, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, 7 1/2l behind Oh This Is Us (9-5) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) gf in Nov.
Black Bess 9-2fav (9-4) Led 2f, tracked leader, every chance from 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Jack's Revenge (9-6) at Epsom 7f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Until Midnight (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Outer Space (9-8) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Varsovian 5-2fav (9-1) Keen 1f, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Make Music (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Mezmaar 7-2 (9-9) Towards rear, kept on final furlong, never going pace to get involved, 7th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Finelcity (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Dutiful Son (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Awkwardly away and stumbled badly after start, held up in last pair, headway on wide outside chasing leaders halfway, pushed along and weakened 2f out, last of 8, 9 1/2l behind Twin Point (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Major Crispies 16-1 (9-0) Behind, outpaced 2f out, never a threat, last of 10, 5 1/2l behind Florencio (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Saleh (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Believe It (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Mar.