held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, never a threat
behind, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace closing stages
held up mid-division, weakened over 2f out
tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra
in touch, headway over 2 f out, led over 1f out, stayed on strongly
tracked leader, effort over 2f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon no impression
led until over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
Conkering Hero came up short attempting to land a four-timer on the all-weather but wasn’t beaten far and his earlier hat-trick included a course and distance success. Imphal won at Lingfield at the end of last year but is now 10lb higher having placed in all four outings so far this season while Gravity Wave is upped in class after scoring at Wolverhampton. Velvet Revolution won this last year and has every chance but GAVLAR also won this in 2015 and, having gone close here in May off a 4lb higher mark, he gets the vote with Andrea Atzeni taking over the reins.
Imphal 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, not clear run 4f out, switched right over 3f out, ridden 2f out, chased winner 1f out, no impression and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 15 1/2l behind Lil Rockerfeller (8-13) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Velvet Revolution 20-1 (8-8) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Argus (IRE) 40-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, soon driven, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 13, 17 1/4l behind Magellan (9-13) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Conkering Hero (IRE) 13-8fav (9-13) Led early, tracked leader until over 11f out, hung left over 1f out, staying on same pace when bumped well inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 1 1/4l behind Gravity Wave (9-4) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Aug.
Gavlar 8-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Vis A Vis (9-9) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Gravity Wave (IRE) 5-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 11f out, led over 2f out, driven over 1f out, edged right entering final furlong, edged left and headed narrowly inside final 100 yards, led again towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Aug beating Innoko (8-12) by hd, 6 ran.
Graceful Lady 7-1 (9-12) Slow into stride, in touch in rear, ridden 3f out, no impression, last of 5, 9 1/2l behind Nibras Galaxy (9-3) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Cousin Khee 20-1 (9-7) Held up in last pair, pushed along 5f out, weakened and behind 3f out, 6th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Conkering Hero (9-7) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Aug.