raced keenly, held up just off the pace in 5th, pushed along 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened
steadied and switched left start, held up off the pace in last trio, switched right and hampered 2f out plenty to do over 1f out, headway and strong run inside final furlong, finished well in 3rd close home, never able to challenge
held up off the pace in 6th, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on to lead inside final 100 yards
held up in last pair, headway and wide home turn, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, raced keenly and soon chasing leaders, went 2nd 5f out, led inside final 3f, headed and lost 2 places inside final 100 yards
raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, pushed along 3f out, soon outpaced, rallied under pressure over 1f out, plugged on but never going pace to get involved
tracked leader 3f, handy 3rd, 2nd again over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance disputing 2nd inside final furlong, went 2nd again towards finish
steadied start, pulled hard in rear, never a factor, tailed off
led and set steady pace, pushed along over 3f out, headed inside final 3f, weakened over 1f out
Cuban Cigar beat Sayifyouwill when winning over 7f at Kempton and is penalised while River Wharfe scored over the same distance here recently and has been upped 4lb. Headora went close at Wolverhampton on his handicap debut and is preferred to the more exposed Merry Secret but RAIN GUAGE also has plenty of scope. The latter finished a modest fourth in novice company here last time but the winner is rated 87 and James Tate’s colt will likely improve now handicapping.
Rain Gauge (IRE) 17-2 (9-2) Led after 1f, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 9, 4l behind Rafiki (9-9) at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Mar.
Cuban Cigar 13-8fav (9-8) Mid-division, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, eased towards finish, won at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Sayifyouwill (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Menai Bridge 15-2 (9-7) Led over 1f, chased leaders, ridden and weakened inside final 2f, 10th of 14, 14 1/4l behind Gordonstoun (9-7) at Nottingham 1m (5) sft in Oct.
River Wharfe 13-2 (9-8) Close up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Shanghai Rock (9-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Merry Secret (IRE) 6-4fav (9-7) Keen tracked leaders, pushed along and wide into straight 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Belle Rouge (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Headora 4-1jfav (9-6) Keen behind leaders, pushed 3f out, hit front after 2f out and ridden, wandered inside final furlong, headed late on, 2nd of 13, hd behind Spirit Of Rowdown (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Sayifyouwill 9-2 (9-7) Led early, tracked leaders, stayed on from over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Cuban Cigar (9-8) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Munificent 40-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, last of 12, 17 1/4l behind Zwelela (9-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Rainbow Sign 7-1 (9-6) Raced keenly, chased leaders on outside, headway over 2f out, 3rd and no impression over 1f out, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Nortonthorpe Boy (9-11) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
