led, ridden 2f out, headed just inside final furlong, kept on
towards rear, headway entering final 3f, led just inside final furlong, ridden and ran on
tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace
raced wide keen close up, ridden 2f out, no impression
close up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide held up, ridden over over 2f out, not trouble leaders
keen in touch, slightly outpaced 2f out, kept on final furlong
raced wide in touch, pushed along 6f out, weakened 3f out
Masterson has won three times on the all-weather this year but is upped a further 3lb after dead-heating for first over 2m at Wolverhampton. BRIGADOON won over today’s distance at Southwell in March and went close again when second over track and trip recently. He can race off the same mark here and Mick Appleby’s charge is preferred to last month’s Doncaster runner-up Fire Jet. Corpus Chorister was only beaten a neck here at the end of last season and is another to consider.
Corpus Chorister (FR) 6-1 (9-7) Keen led after 1f, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 4 1/4l behind Tartan Bute (9-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Fire Jet (IRE) 11-8fav (9-2) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Handiwork (9-5) at Doncaster 2m hcp (4) gf in Apr.
Brigadoon 7-1 (9-10) Led, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind On Fire (9-2) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in May.
Masterson (IRE) 11-8fav (9-7) Tracked leader, led 2f out, edged left and bumped rival well over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, joined post, won at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in May beating Denmead (9-1), 5 ran.
Itlaaq 40-1 (9-3) Held up, never on terms, 10th of 13, 17l behind Be Perfect (9-2) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Apr.
The New Pharaoh (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression, 6th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Captain Peacock (9-11) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Daghash 12-1 (9-5) Held up, in rear, took keen hold, ridden and brief effort on outside over 2f out, no impression, well beaten over 1f out, 6th of 7, 10 3/4l behind St Michel (8-0) at Beverley 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Chebsey Beau 33-1 (10-1) Towards rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden and weakened 6th, pulled up before 4 out, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Al Khafji 11-2 (8-13) Held up in last pair, pushed along and struggling over 3f out, one pace in 5th and no impression final furlong, 5th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Captain Peacock (9-6) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Wordiness 7-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, last and not much room over 2f out, went 5th final furlong and some late headway, never involved, 5th of 8, 8 3/4l behind Mishko (9-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in May.
Maoi Chinn Tire (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, closed on outside after 4 out, 4th and ridden 3 out, no impression, 6th of 9, 22 1/4l behind Dominada (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gf in Oct.