held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, edged left over 2f out, no impression
slow to break, held up in rear, headway on outside 3f out, close 3rd 2f out, held by winner inside final furlong, kept on
held up in 4th, headway on outside over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, held inside final furlong, kept on
chased leader, led just over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon beaten
led, headed just over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, niggled along over 4f out, led over 2f out, edged left over 1f out and inside final furlong, stayed on
NonRunner
Rubenesque has won twice at Pontefract this year but in lower grade contests than this. Grandee finished a bit closer over track and trip last time without threatening but HOULTON (NAP) was beaten only a head on the Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton last month. Marco Botti’s charge looks to have leading claims on that form and is taken to confirm running with third-placed Trouble And Strife. Cotton Club hasn’t won on the all-weather since 2017 and the remaining pair make even less appeal.
Grandee (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Held up in touch in rear, headway into 3rd 5f out, ridden 2f out, soon one pace, plugged on inside final furlong, just failed for 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 3rd of 4, 4 1/4l behind Anyonecanhaveitall (9-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Handiwork 14-1 (10-0) Very awkward start and very slowly away, always well behind, last of 6, dist behind Lever Du Soleil (8-9) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Cotton Club (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced when not much room 2f out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Charlie D (9-10) at Bath 1m 6f hcp (2) fm in Sep.
Polish 25-1 (8-0) Mid-division, lost place weakened, 9th of 19, 9 3/4l behind Timoshenko (8-0) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Trouble And Strife (IRE) 4-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5 3/4l behind Champarisi (10-0) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Rubenesque (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Made all, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and stayed on gamely inside final furlong, won at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Sep beating Forewarning (9-11) by nk, 4 ran.
Houlton 9-2 (9-7) Close up, chased leader over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, pushed along and headed close up, 2nd of 8, hd behind Champarisi (9-5) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (4) pol in Sep.