held up towards rear, some headway when not much room 2f out, soon struggling
led, ridden and headed entering final 3f, weakening when hampered on rail inside final 2f, soon behind and eased
held up in mididivision, headway on inside when not much room and squeeezed through 2f out, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
held up in last pair, switched right over 3f out, soon hung left and no headway final 2f
held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders 3f out, went 2nd under pressure inside final 2f, no chance with winner and one pace in 3rd inside final furlong
took keen hold in touch in 5th, not much room on inside over 2f out, no impression over 1f out
chased leading trio, pushed along over 3f out, 4th and one pace over 1f out
tracked leader, led entering final 3f, ridden and headed inside final 2f, soon lost 2nd, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, held mup in touch in 6th, headway chasing leaders over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, carried head high and weakened over 1f out
tracked leading pair, 2nd 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
took keen hold towards rear, headway on inside over 3f out, chasing leaders when not much room over 2f out, soon switched right and ridden, weakened just over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway on outside 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, plugged on final furlong, never going pace to threaten
held up towards rear, headway on inside 3f out, not much room over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, eased when no room on rail final furlong
took keen hold towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden inside final 3f, beaten when slightly hampered 2f out
This is wide-open with so many unexposed, promising types on show. That list includes Ger Lyons’ Navan winner Spader and recent Leicester winner VIVRE POUR VIVRE. The latter is upped 10lb for this but won by seven lengths in heavy going under Ryan Moore and should go close again. Soldier In Action and Southdown Lad have already been thereabouts in decent handicaps this year while Both Sides and Imperial Aviator are recent maiden winners. Good Run, Danehill Kodiac and Cartago stand out of those returning to action with the first-named preferred having won twice on soft ground last year.
Ebtihaal (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, pushed along and no response over 3f out, plugged on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved, 5th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Czabo (8-10) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Soldier In Action (FR) 2-1fav (9-7) Led, set steady pace until quickened over 3f out, 3 lengths clear over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Red Verdon (9-0) at Chester 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Cartago 15-2 (9-2) Pulled hard in midfield, never on terms, 5th of 10, 4l behind Glamorous Approach (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Oct.
Good Run (FR) 2-1fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 1f (4) sft in Oct beating Celebration Day (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Southdown Lad (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Keen close up, switched right over 1f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Speed Company (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Vivre Pour Vivre (IRE) 8-11fav (9-1) Held up in 3rd of the pace, pushed along over 2f out, switched left and good headway to lead over 1f out, soon clear, eased inside final furlong, comfortable, won at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Apr beating Skeaping (9-7) by 7l, 3 ran.
Danehill Kodiac (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Led, pressed over 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, just held on, won at Doncaster 1m (2) gd in Sep beating Prince Of Arran (8-8) by shd, 8 ran.
Spader (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Soon led, went on from 3f out, pushed along to assert from under 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, easily, won at Navan 1m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Apr beating Ceol Na Nog (8-10) by 4l, 10 ran.
Theydon Grey 13-2 (8-9) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Turn Tide (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Imperial Aviator 10-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged right, ran on, won at Leicester 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gs in Apr beating Ulysses (8-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Prince Of Arran 7-1 (9-5) Led early, tracked leaders, closed over 2f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Apr beating Lord George (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Shahbar 15-8fav (9-1) In rear, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 5, 28 3/4l behind Soldier In Action (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Both Sides 5-4fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, chased leader approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in May beating Red Hot Chilly (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Motdaw 9-1 (9-7) Off the pace in mid-division, ridden halfway, some headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 10, 10l behind Medburn Dream (9-0) at Chepstow 1m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Gawdawpalin (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Held up in touch in mid-division, headway on outside over 5f out, went 2nd over 2f out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Shabbah (8-10) at Bath 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
