steadied start, held up in rear, headway and switched right entering final 2f, pressing leader when pushed right, pushed along to lead close home
led, headed 11f out, tracked leaders, headway 2f out, led approaching final furlong, pressed when hung right inside final furlong, headed close home
tracked leader, led 11f out, headed narrowly 3f out, ridden to lead again over 1f out, soon headed, no extra towards finish
keen tracked leaders, rider dropped whip entering final 2f, pushed along and stayed on to go 3rd close home
close up in rear, wide and headway track leader 9f out, led narrowly 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
A very tricky opener, despite the small field. Cosmelli won the Northumberland Plate consolation over course and distance last summer when only a pound lower but has been beaten since here by STARGAZER (NAP) and Busy Street. The latter beat the top weight just under a length here in January, with Loud And Clear three lengths back in third, but Philip Kirby’s stayer is now 4lb better off and should turn the tables. Lucky Deal got the better of Busy Street at Chelmsford in February and is only 2lb worse so looks the danger given he still appears to be progressing.
Stargazer (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) Tracked front pair, headway 5f out, went 2nd and challenged over 2f out, soon ridden, lost place over 1f out, well held in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 4, 6 1/4l behind Grey Britain (9-5) at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Feb.
Cosmelli (ITY) 16-1 (9-1) Soon led, headed over 5f out, tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Mootasadir (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Lucky Deal 6-4fav (8-13) Tracked clear leader, close up halfway, led 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, in no danger after, ran on, eased towards finish, easily, won at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (2) pol in Feb beating Busy Street (9-3) by 3l, 5 ran.
Busy Street 11-2 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) pol in Mar beating Ulster (9-9) by hd, 8 ran.
Loud And Clear 15-8fav (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Cry Wolf (9-5) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Feb.