slowly into stride, in touch, headway over 2f out, soon carried left, effort approaching final furlong, no extra closing stages
dwelt, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, no impression
led, hung left over 2f out, headed inside final furlong no extra
tracked leader, effort when hampered over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace
Valentino Boy has a leading chance at the weights but a poor effort in a handicap on his recent reappearance is off-putting and another chance goes to BENJAMIN THOMAS. The latter picked up where he left off last year when suffering another narrow-margin defeat but he has the beating of both Dan Troop and Bonnie Gals on these terms and can open his account. Gloriosus can include an Italian Group 1 winner among his winning relatives while Don Valentino is related to a host of winners and is another newcomer to note in the betting.
Dan Troop 4-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Big Lachie (9-7) at Wolverhampton 6f (5) pol in Nov.
Don Valentino (IRE) Dandy Man gelding out of My Funny Valentine.
Gloriosus (USA) Lonhro colt out of Sky Song.
Valentino Boy (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Dakota Gold (8-12) at Thirsk 5f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Bonnie Gals 14-1 (9-0) Set steady pace, quicken 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Ray's The Money (9-5) at Newcastle 7f mdn stks (4) pol in Mar.
Lady Volante (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Pulled hard with leader, under pressure 2f out, soon one pace, 3rd of 4, 5 1/2l behind Sans Souci Bay (9-13) at Lingfield 7f stks (6) pol in Apr.
Benjamin Thomas (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Close up, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 16, shd behind Sir Reginald Brown (9-0) at Redcar 7f mdn stks (6) gf in Apr.