rear of mid-division on outer, went 5th over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong
led, driven along from over 1f out, kept on well, headed and no extra closing stages
took keen hold and settled in rear, driven along on outer from 2f out, no impression from 1f out
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no extra from over 1f out
broke well and settled behind leaders, 6th 2f out, not clear run 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
always behind
prominent, 2nd 2f out, close 4th but no impression when hampered inside final furlong
always prominent, 3rd halfway, every chance over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
settled towards rear, 7th 2f out, headway and squeezed through narrow gap under 1f out, quickened well to lead close home
Snaefell won this two years ago but could only finish sixth last year and has a Group 3 penalty for his victory at the Curragh in September. The tough Luisant can never be discounted though he appears better on polytrack these days while Sir Gerry may need a little more time to get over his trip to Dubai. Wi Dud returned to form at Nottingham but the weight-for-age scale can favour three-year-olds at this stage of the season and with Tommy Stack's yard still going strongly the speedy WALK ON BYE, who is out of the brilliantly-fast Pipalong and was third in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in his first season, gets the vote.
Snaefell (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Mid-division, 8th 2f out, ridden in 7th 1f out, no extra final furlong, 8th of 12, 7l behind Rayeni (9-2) at Curragh 6f Listed stks sft in Oct.
Luisant 6-1 (9-9) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden 1 1/2f out, kept on well final furlong to 2nd on line, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Sole Power (8-12) at Dundalk 5f 3yo stks pol.
Sir Gerry (USA) 25-1 (9-0) 12th of 16, 9l behind Joy And Fun (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Mar.
Wi Dud 9-2 (9-1) Held up, headway 2f out, switched left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, readily, won at Nottingham 5f cond Stakes (3) sft beating Moorhouse Lad (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Invincible Ash (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Towards rear, some late headway final furlong, no danger, 6th of 10, 4l behind Sole Power (8-12) at Dundalk 5f 3yo stks pol.
Sioduil (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 4th and effort 2f out, soon no extra, 12th of 13, 20l behind Zorija Rose (9-2) at Curragh 6f ext hcp sft in Mar.
Rock Jock (IRE) 66-1 (8-9) Held up, stayed on late, 9th of 14, 12l behind Musir (9-5) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 3yo Grp 3 in Feb.
Walk On Bye (IRE) 5-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, travelling well 2f out, 3rd over 1f out, soon no impression under pressure and kept on same pace, 6th of 20, 4l behind Lucky General (9-3) at Curragh 6f 2yo aut gd in Sep.
Velvet Flicker (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, smooth headway to challenge 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 6f 2yo stks pol in Nov beating Wit And Wisdom (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.