raced keenly in mid-division on inside, pushed along hanging left over 2f out, plugged on final furlong, never going pace to get involved
led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, dropped to 3rd and no extra entering final furlong
steadied and went left start, held up in last pair, pushed along inside final 3f, plugged on final furlong, never going pace to get involved
held up in last pair, weakened and behind approaching final 2f
raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden and unable to quicken, 4th and no impression final furlong
raced keenly in last trio, plugged on final furlong, never on terms
held up in 4th, pushed along and headway out wide over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
tracked leader, led over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong
A runner-up at York last month, Pivoine has done all his winning over shorter trips so far. But King Of The South scored over course and distance at the start of the year and will be sharper for a recent comeback at Doncaster. The less exposed March Law has every chance after placing at Kempton but last year’s winner NICHOLAS T is taken to repeat that success. Jim Goldie’s charge beat Stargazer last season and again when successful in the Northumberland Plate here in June and can race off a similar mark today.
Alright Sunshine (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders inside final 4f, pushed along and weakened 3f out, 14th of 23, 11 1/2l behind Farhan (8-3) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Nao Da Mais (BRZ) 80-1 (9-4) Led, headed 2f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 7l behind Shandoz (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Nicholas T 200-1 (9-7) Steadied and switched right start, held up in rear, never involved, 7th of 10, 18l behind Trueshan (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.
Faylaq 6-1 (9-0) In touch, pushed along 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 6, 4l behind Victory Chime (9-5) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Pivoine (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, chased leaders 5f out, ridden under 3f out, kept on inside last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Aramaic (9-2) at York 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Stargazer (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Steadied start, held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, switched out 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, plugged on in 4th, 4th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Postileo (9-9) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
King Of The South (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 37 1/4l behind Aaddeey (9-11) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
March Law (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Led, headed entering final furlong, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Marching Army (8-13) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Nov.