always towards rear
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened last
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace from last
tracked leaders, pushed along before last, kept on run-in
held up behind, headway before 3 out, went 2nd and hit 2 out, challenged last, kept on to lead towards finish
led, mistake 4th, ridden before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
tracked leader early, prominent, weakened before 3 out
prominent early, soon in rear, pushed along 5 out, tailed off after 4 out
Sky Khan made steady progress over the summer but may need this. Smart Ruler returns on a high enough mark and Sud Pacifique struggles to get his head in front but Brian Ellison has a couple of likely sorts in Stormy Weather, who has gone well here in the past, and McCoy's mount Discovery Bay. TITUS BOLT was taken on for the lead here last time and paid the price in the closing stages. But he's better than that and, if Henry Brooke can keep a bit up his sleeve, Jim Goldie's charge could be tough to pass today. Clever Cookie will find easier opportunities to break his duck and this may be too competitive for Groomed and Endeavor.
Stormy Weather (FR) 100-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, struggling 4 out, no chance before next, 7th of 8, 22l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl G1 (1) gd in Nov.
Discovery Bay 12-1 (11-5) Held up behind in touch, headway on outside 4 out, effort 2 out, one pace approaching last, ridden and no impression flat, 7th of 9, 9l behind Dunraven Storm (11-7) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Sky Khan 1-4fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, led 2 out on bit, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Aug beating Hit The Top (10-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Sud Pacifique (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Bogside (11-0) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Smart Ruler (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, under pressure when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Willow's Saviour (10-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Clever Cookie 7-2 (11-0) Raced keenly, mid-division, tracked leaders after 4 out, switched inside after next, ridden flat, stayed on to press winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Full Shift (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (5) gd in Nov.
Titus Bolt (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Close up, led 3rd, hit 6th, ridden before 2 out, soon headed, weakened before last, 6th of 14, 18l behind Strongpoint (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft.
Groomed (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 12, 27l behind Forced Family Fun (10-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Endeavor 10-1 (10-13) Held up, not fluent 2nd, hampered and left closer 3rd, jumped right and bumped next, led 9th, headed well before last, soon beaten, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Ballycool (9-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
