tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch in rear, effort to chase leading pair over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace
close up, chased winner over 4f out, carried wide on bend over 3f out, challenged winner from 2f out, every chance until no extra inside final furlong
fractious to load, tracked leader until led 7f out, ran wide bend over 3f out, pressed from 2f out, asserted inside final furlong
led, headed 7f out, chased winner until over 4f out, weakened 3f out
Alan Swinbank's Line Of Duty never looked threatening to the leaders on soft ground at Haydock recently and should do better on a faster surface today but it is hard to get away from AMAZING KING, who can complete a hat-trick. Phil Kirby's gelding was well held in the Galway Hurdle on his most recent outing but earlier form when winning handicaps over this trip here and at Folkestone reads well and the strong stayer has an obvious chance off just a 4lb higher mark than when a two-length scorer at Folkestone. John Berry's Ethics Girl has been given a chance by the handicapper but does not win very often, while Grey Granite seems too high in the weights and has yet to score in this grade. Howard Johnson's Leopard Hills is only 1lb higher than when narrowly beaten by Escape Artist in a maiden handicap at Beverley last month and has to be considered but a better bet looks to be Amazing King, who can win again.
Grey Granite (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Chased leader, led over 4f out and raced far side, headed 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 16l behind Bollin Felix (9-7) at Hamilton 1m 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jul.
Ethics Girl (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Held up in touch, switched right inside final 3f, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders, 4th of 9, 6l behind Hawaana (9-5) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Amazing King (IRE) 7-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Folkestone 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jun beating Vinces (9-3) by 2l, 7 ran.
Line Of Duty (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Led, headed over 8f out, tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, no extra final 50 yards, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Joseph Lister (9-5) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Leopard Hills (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Set steady pace, joined by winner and quickened clear over 3f out, ridden and headed narrowly 2f out, edged left and bumped inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Escape Artist (8-7) at Beverley 2m 3yo mdn hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jul.
