in rear, effort over 2f out, beaten over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, never going pace to challenge leaders
led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened well inside final furlong
held up in rear, switched right and headway over 2f out, ridden and edge left over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, keeping on when intimidated towards finish
chased leaders, ridden and hung left final 2f, stayed on
held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, led over 2f out, edged left under pressure over 1f out, edged right towards finish, stayed on
Nonrunner
With doubts over most of these one way or another, El Dececy is taken to continue his winning run for trainer Stuart Parr. The gelding has completed a hat-trick in the past three weeks, all over this trip. He has risen 12lb as a result of those successes, but the ground will suit and he has been there and done it so we have no reason to desert him. Riley Boys is a Beverley specialist who is better over 10f, so we will take him on this time, while the trip may also find out both Ink Spot and Royal Storm, who would be ideally suited by shorter. Hannicean looks dangerous having slid down the weights, as he is effective over this distance, while Hartshead is on a really attractive mark if he could produce anything like his best. Of all of them though, El Dececy has the most solid credentials and is the one for us.
Riley Boys (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Held up, smooth headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs beating Gulf Coast (7-11) by a shd, 12 ran.
Hartshead 8-1 (9-12) In touch, headway and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Wind Shuffle (8-12) at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Royal Storm (IRE) 6-5fav (9-5) Made all, ridden over 3f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Salisbury 7f clm (5) gf beating Mister Fips (9-4) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ink Spot 17-2 (8-13) Held up, ridden and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 13, nk behind Harrison George (9-1) at York 7f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy.
Hannicean 10-3fav (9-10) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Sonny Parkin (9-8) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Italian Romance 25-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, driven over 3f out, soon no impression, 7th of 8, 18l behind Art Man (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan.
Opus Maximus (IRE) 16-1 (8-3) Held up behind, ridden 2f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 3l behind Main Aim (8-12) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf.
El Dececy (USA) 13-2 (9-12) Made all, came stand's side over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, unchallenged, won at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gs beating Feisty Royale (9-2) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Kensington (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra close home, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Ermine Grey (8-10) at Chepstow 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
