held up, headway after 1 mile, ridden along 3f out, driven to lead well over 1f out, edged left and kept on final furlong
mid-division, headway over 6f, effort when out paced over 2f, driven and stayed on towards finish
towards rear, headway 3f out, weakened final furlong
prominent, ridden along over 4f out, weakened final furlong
led after 2f, reminders over 4f out, headed well over 1f out, driven and kept on final furlong
towards rear, reminders over 5f, never dangerous
led, was headed after 2f and held up behind leaders, effort over 2f out and stayed on final furlong
always behind
took keen hold in touch, ridden over 3f out, driven and one pace final 2f
in touch, effort over 3f out, one pace final 2f
DARAIYAM continues to improve and to defy the handicapper and is taken to land his hat-trick at the expense of Yonder and Mr Crystal. The selection has landed back to back races at Catterick and here over four furlongs shorter. He has proven staying form at this track which many of his rival don't have and for that reason he is difficult to oppose. Yonder is less exposed with only seven runs under his belt. He ran well when finishing third to the selection last time out but more will be needed if he is to reverse the form. Mr Crystal won at this venue last October off a six pound lower mark. He has disappointed in two hurdle runs over the winter but if he can recapture his winning form he will not be far away. However for the winner we return to Daraiyam.
Mr Crystal (FR) 8-1 (9-4) Held up, headway 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure, won at Pontefract 2m 2f hcap (5) gs in Oct beating Miss Serena (8-9) by shd, 12 ran.
Victory Quest (IRE) 7-2 (9-8) Keen, tracked leader until over 6f out, outpaced over 4f out, ridden 3f out, beaten and eased before final furlong, last of 5, 18l behind Calculating (8-6) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar.
Hasanpour (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway to track leader 7f out, led over 3f out to over 2f out, soon weakened and virtually pulled up final furlong, 14th of 16, well behind Honolulu (9-5) at Royal Ascot 2m 6f stks (2) gf in Jun.
Yonder 13-2 (9-10) Held up, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Daraiym (8-8) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Haldibari (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, lost place over 6f out, rallied 5f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 9, 21l behind El Bravo (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol.
Orchard House (FR) 25-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway on outer to challenge leader from 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Prairie Hawk (9-5) at Lingfield 2m hcap (6) pol in Feb.
Rimsky Korsakov (IRE) 100-1 (9-9) Held up, always behind, 13th of 17, 33l behind Duncan (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gs in Sep.
Bright Falcon 80-1 (9-4) Led until over 7f out, weakened over 5f out, last of 15, well behind Northern Dune (9-1) at Redcar 2m hcp 0-65 (6) fm.
Terrasini (FR) 8-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden along over 4f out, driven over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 12l behind Banquet (8-12) at Catterick 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Daraiym (IRE) 2-1fav (8-8) Led after 1f, ridden well over 1f out, just held on, won at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Snowberry Hill (9-3) by ns, 7 ran.
