in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, easily
tracked leader, every chance over 2f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong
held up in rear, beaten over 2f out
led until over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
in touch, headway over 3f out, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, squeezed through to challenge over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on under pressure
tracked leader, every chance over 2f out, soon short of room weakened 1f out
NonRunner
Mustarrid, whose two victories have been on the all-weather, returned to form with a short-head defeat at Musselburgh though that was on fast going. Al Mureib has never won and was beaten 11l in a maiden at Pontefract last time. Dubai Acclaim completed a double at Doncaster and Beverley, when Stringybark Creek was well beaten, before running a shocker at Newcastle, which wasn't his form. Zlatan returns after a long break so the vote goes to OUD METHA BRIDGE, twice a winner at Yarmouth this year, the latest on heavy going, and just 2lb higher.
Mustarrid (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Behind, headway on outside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, gaining near finish, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Brother McGonagall (9-5) at Musselburgh 1m hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Al Mureib (IRE) 2-1 (9-5) Tracked winner, pushed along over 2 out, ridden over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Joyful Mission (9-5) at Pontefract 1m mdn stks (5) gd in Jul.
Zlatan (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Pulled hard, held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before led 5th, headed before 3 out, lost 2nd soon after 3 out, chased leading pair until weakened rapidly and fell 2 out, at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Directory 33-1 (8-11) Started slowly, behind and no chance after, 10th of 11, 15 1/2l behind Kasbaan (9-7) at Kempton 1m hcp (2) pol in Sep.
Keswick 22-1 (9-3) Prominent over 5f, tailed off, last of 14, dist behind Fennaan (9-6) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Dubai Acclaim (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 14, 32 3/4l behind Home Before Dusk (9-10) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Oud Metha Bridge (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Redarna (10-7) at Carlisle 1m hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Stringybark Creek 33-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 3f out, tailed off, last of 19, dist behind Gamesters Icon (10-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.