in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to join winner inside final furlong, held close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader 6f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, joined inside final furlong, held on gamely
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
in touch in rear, pushed along 2f out, no impression
soon led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no extra
POWER LINK landed a double at the end of last year and has gone close over 7f in both subsequent starts. James Tate’s charge is worth a try over this longer trip and has the beating of Corazon Espinado on collateral form. The latter finished runner-up over 7f here last time but has won over today’s distance in the past while Knighted drops in class for his reappearance but has been off the track since May. Gossiping landed a hat-trick early last year and has slid down the weights since without yet showing signs of a return to form while Mr Top Hat is preferred to Apex King of the remaining pair.
Power Link (USA) 3-1 (8-12) Dwelt close up in rear, ridden and headway inside final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd final strides, 2nd of 6, shd behind Reeves (8-9) at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Knighted (IRE) 5-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, stumbled badly and lost place turning in, never able to get back on terms, behind and eased final 3f, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Fayez (8-6) at Ripon 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.
Corazon Espinado (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Always prominent, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Mohareb (9-8) at Lingfield 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Mr Top Hat 9-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, lost place towards finish, 6th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Sea Fox (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Gossiping 8-1 (9-0) Off the pace in 4th, weakened inside final 3f, last of 5, 29 1/4l behind Mosakhar (8-10) at Southwell 1m hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Apex King (IRE) 20-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 8l behind Another Touch (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.