tracked leader, hampered on bend 7f out, pushed along to challenge 3f out, losing place when hampered again inside final 2f, soon weakened, eased when no chance inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, almost snatched 2nd but not pace of winner
tracked leaders, led on bit 2f out, ran on well, snugly
led, relctant and hung left on bend 7f out, joined 3f out, headed 2f out, soon veered left, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, never going pace of winner and just held on for 2nd
held up in mid-division, headway on inside 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway 2f out, no impression final furlong
never travelled towards rear, pushed along over 6f out, ridden and struggling over 3f out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
steadied start, held up and behind, pushed along and struggling over 3f out, plugged on inside final furlong
None of these can be dismissed out of hand. But course runner-up Classic Devotion wears his owners first colours ahead of Anglophile and James Doyle prefers Good Value to Likelihood. Grand Meister was clear of the rest when third at Windsor and makes his handicap debut as does Full Moon Fever, who will find this easier than her latest task in the Cheshire Oaks. ARAB DAWN has shown good progress for the step up to middle-distances winning at Goodwood and Newbury last time where he had a subsequent winner back in third. He gets the nod to defy a further 5lb rise with Richard Hughes keeping the winning partnership intact.
Classic Devotion (USA) 3-1 (8-8) Led 1f, tracked winner, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Criteria (8-3) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
Anglophile 3-1fav (9-6) Steadied start, held up in touch, in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 10l behind Island Remede (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Arab Dawn 11-2 (8-11) Held up, headway on outside 5f out, edged left and challenging over 1f out, led inside final furlong, just pushed out close home, won at Newbury 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd beating Personal Opinion (9-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Likelihood (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Held up, pushed along over 2f out, edged left and no impression over 1f out, 7th of 8, 10l behind Volume (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gd.
Good Value 8-11fav (9-1) Close in last place, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 3, 1/2l behind Solidarity (9-7) at Bath 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Grand Meister 5-1 (8-13) In touch, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, soon hung right, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Purple Spectrum (8-13) at Windsor 1m 2f mdn auc stks (5) sft.
Tucson Arizona 4-1 (8-12) Held up in touch and in rear, chased winner over 6f out until over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Act Of Charity (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Filament Of Gold (USA) 5-1 (8-12) Tracked leader for 3f, chased leading pair and pushed along, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 13l behind Latenightrequest (9-1) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Apr.
Full Moon Fever (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) In rear, pushed along and struggling 4f out, never involved, 6th of 9, 13l behind Anipa (9-0) at Chester 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gd.
Ultimate Act 4-1 (9-6) Difficult to load in stalls, started slowly, behind, switched right and not much room 2f out, headway on outer over 1f out, stayed on to 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Old Town Boy (9-7) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Apr.
