held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, switched left and blundered last, edged right flat, one pace
mid-division, headway on inside when blundered 3 out, beaten after
prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway after 6th, hampered last, one pace
tracked leaders, raced keenly, ridden approaching 3 out, led and not fluent 2 out, driven out
with leader, led approaching 3 out, headed and not fluent 2 out, switched left after last, not quicken
held up towards rear, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, edged left after 3 out, weakened after last
Cross Kennon has shown improved form, winning his last two starts, having been stepped up in trip recently and Jennie Candlish's gelding faces no easy task defying the rise in the weights for those successes or the drop back in trip and a better bet may be ARCTIC BEN, who gets the verdict ahead of Dark Energy. Michael Scudamore's gelding comes into this in good heart after wins at Perth and Wincanton and a decent effort in defeat at Huntingdon last time but, judged by that latest effort he now seems to be in the grip of the handicapper and may be booked for a place at best again. With Alison Thorpe's runners coming into form, Dearson has to be respected and he makes more appeal than Tony Carroll's Golden Square, who races off the same mark as when well held at Wincanton earlier this month. Classic Fly won well at Market Rasen last month and has to be respected but a 9lb rise for that win looks harsh and a better bet looks to be Arctic Ben. Henry Daly's gelding lacks a recent run but the five-year-old is less exposed than his rivals, comes from a yard that is more than capable of getting one ready and he may be worth chancing on his return.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Held up, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 10, 22l behind Izita Star (10-11) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
Dark Energy 10-1 (11-7) Took good hold well in rear, hampered 5th, squeezed through and headway on bend before 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed soon after flight, hanging right before last, one pace, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Dani's Girl (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Dearson (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) In touch, headway after 5th, blundered 6th, rallied after 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 10l behind Jazz Scene (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jul '08.
Ready To Crown (USA) 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division, some headway after 3 out, never on terms, well beaten before last, 7th of 16, 15l behind Crouch End Flyer (10-13) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Three Ships 7-2 (10-12) In touch, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 3rd, went 2nd before next, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed before last, weakened flat, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Genari (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gf in Sep.
Classic Fly (FR) 5-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, challenged and hit last, kept on gamely, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Sep beating Faith And Reason (11-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Petit Fleur 50-1 (10-10) Always behind, tailed off approaching 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Runaround Sue (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun, 14 ran.
Marino Prince (FR) 66-1 (10-2) Very slowly away, raced keenly, still last when mistake 5th, headway on inside 3 out, hit last, weakened flat, 7th of 16, 9l behind Rampant Ronnie (11-4) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gf.
Golden Square 7-1 (9-13) Led, headed between last 2, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 11l behind Dark Energy (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Cross Kennon (IRE) 2-1fav (12-2) Held up well in rear, steady headway 11th, chased leaders next, driven and closed to lead 2f out, driven, stayed on strongly and drew clear flat, won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr beating Celebrity Call (11-6) by 7l, 12 ran.
General Smith 12-1 (10-13) Towards rear, some headway 6th, weakened before next, 11th of 17, well behind Massams Lane (11-0) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Aug.
