raced keenly, held up towards rear on inside, pushed along and struggling inside final 3f, tailed off and eased inside final 2f
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final 2f
tracked leader until led 12f out, headed 9f out, tracked leader until inside final 3f, chased leaders, ridden and stayed on same pace in 3rd final furlong
close 3rd on inside, ridden to lead inside final 2f, stayed on gamely
held up off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, just missed 3rd but not pace of leading duo
held up off the pace towards rear, some late moderate headway, never going pace to get involved
held up off the pace and always towards rear
steadied and switched left start, held up off the pace in rear, some late minor headway, never going pace to get involved
held up off the pace in last pair, headway out wide over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
mid-division on inside, pushed along 4f out, ridden and outpaced 3f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along over 2f out, driven inside final 2f, weakened quickly over 1f out
never closer than mid-division
raced keenly, led just over 2f, settled in close 3rd 9f out, 2nd again 8f out until inside final 3f, ridden and went 2nd again over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, always just held
raced keenly in close 6th, went prominent 10f out, led 9f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, hung left and lost 2nd over 1f out, chased leaders, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, headway out wide over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
slowly into stride, raced keenly towards rear, some headway on inside and driven over 2f out, weakened soon after
NonRunner
Eight of these are previous course winners, including last year’s winner Idilico. Nietzsche arrives off the back of a win at Catterick while Arabescato and Ernesto are strong stayers but Grand Scheme has been beaten off this mark the last twice. Saint Riquier is becoming hard to place but Melakaz was only beaten a length at Haydock after completing a hat-trick at Lingfield. Little went right for BLISTERING BARNEY (NAP) at Pontefract latest and he was eased in the closing stages. A winner here in May, he beat a good yardstick at Carlisle two runs ago and has as good a chance as any in a wide-open renewal.
Grand Scheme (IRE) 15-2 (9-9) Slowly away and slow into stride, in rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Secret Shadow (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Mukha Magic 7-1 (10-2) Soon tracking leader, led after 3f, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Smart Champion (10-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Alpine Stroll 25-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, driven along 3f out, weakened quickly, 13th of 15, dist behind Emiyn (8-7) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Blistering Barney (IRE) 11-1 (9-13) Close 3rd on inside, pushed along 3f out, keeping on looking held when not clear run and eased inside final 110 yards, 8th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Carrigillihy (9-4) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Arabescato 17-2 (9-13) Held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway out wide chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd 2f out, one pace and held when lost 2nd inside final 150 yards, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Smart Champion (10-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Phoenix Aquilus (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Held up off the pace in last trio, headway over 1f out, pushed along and stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Smart Champion (10-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Amazing Red (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Dwelt in rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 10, 6l behind Schwartz (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Saint Riquier (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, raced keenly, mistake 8th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Johnson's Blue (10-10) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Melakaz (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Chased leader, pushed along and outpaced over 4f out, stayed on from 2f out, never nearer, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Night Sparkle (9-3) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Ernesto (GER) 14-1 (10-9) Held up in mid-division, struggling 4f out, well beaten final 3f, 8th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Singing The Blues (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Lawmans Blis (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Mid-division on outside, ridden to dispute lead over 1f out, not quicken final furlong and weakened rapidly, 5th of 9, 13 3/4l behind Arrange (9-9) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Nietzsche 6-1 (9-4) Prominent, took it up in center 2f out, few lengths clear final furlong, pressed final 100 yards but always holding on, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Sep beating Two Brothers (9-4) by nk, 9 ran.
Vaynor (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Chased leader, pushed along over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 4th of 5, 9 1/2l behind Night Sparkle (9-3) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Mount Olympus 22-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, edged left and ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 35l behind Grand Scheme (9-9) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in May.
Cherry Cola 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, went 4th home turn, ridden before 2 out, every chance after last, stayed on but always held, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Boomtime Banker (10-2) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Overhaugh Street 16-1 (9-5) Off the pace towards rear, ridden out wide over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Infiniti (9-7) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Idilico (FR) 11-8fav (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, switched right flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Curious Times (11-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
