always behind
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on same pace
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, headway approaching final furlong, led last 5 yards, headed post
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous
in touch, one pace from over 1f out
held up, headway on outer over 1f out, stayed on well to lead post
slowly into stride, chased leaders. ridden over 2f out, one pace
chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, led towards finish, headed last 5 yards, kept on
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
Genki was not out of the first two in any of his seven races last term but has paid the penalty at the hands of the handicapper as a result of that consistency and with Roger Charlton's string yet to hit form a better bet looks to be Knot In Wood, who gets the vote with Rising Shadow rated the pick of the remainder. The selection stepped up on his reappearance effort when chasing home a useful yardstick at Dundalk recently over an inadequate five furlongs and he looks worth supporting back over his favoured six furlongs on ground conditions that suit. Richard Whitaker's Damika ran a creditable race on his return at Doncaster and should be thereabouts again but he may just be a shade high in the weights at present. Ingleby Arch is better than he showed at Doncaster last time and makes more appeal than Kevin Ryan's Everymanforhimself, who makes his seasonal reappearance. Stable companion High Curragh ran better than expected when chasing home Pusey Street Lady at Town Moor and has to be considered on that evidence but the vote goes to Knot In Wood.
Knot In Wood (IRE) 2-1fav (9-9) Tracked leader, challenged from over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1l behind An Tadh (9-9) at Dundalk 5f stk std.
Genki (IRE) 7-2fav (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, held on well close home, won at Ascot 6f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept beating Sohraab (8-6) by a shd, 10 ran.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Towards rear and soon chased along, never troubled leaders, 10th of 15, 15l behind Aahayson (9-2) at Doncaster 6f lst stk (1) gd in Mar.
Damika (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 18, 1l behind Cape (8-11) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs.
Zomerlust 9-1 (9-2) Never better than mid-division, 13th of 17, 18l behind Pusey Street Lady (8-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Mar.
Steenberg (IRE) 50-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 21st of 23, 35l behind Candidato Roy (9-7) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Turnkey 16-1 (8-7) Behind, headway on outer 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 18, 1 1/2l behind Cape (8-11) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs.
Ingleby Arch (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Led far side, headed over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 17, 9l behind Pusey Street Lady (8-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Mar.
Ice Planet 10-1 (8-13) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace, 9th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Cape (8-11) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs.
Stevie Gee (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, headway over 1f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, led post, won at Doncaster 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft beating King's Bastion (8-11) by a shd, 16 ran.
High Curragh 25-1 (8-8) Prominent stand side, ridden halfway, edged left over 1f out, kept on final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 5l behind Pusey Street Lady (8-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Mar.
Distinctly Game 5-1 (9-3) Outpaced, headway over 1f out, kept on, not reached leaders, 5th of 8, 2l behind Harry Up (8-12) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Fayr Jag (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Behind, soon pushed along, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 11l behind King's Apostle (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) gf in Sept.
Skhilling Spirit 12-1 (8-12) Dwelt and towards rear, ridden along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 16, 6l behind Transcend (9-0) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Everymanforhimself (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Bumped start, chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Obe Gold (8-6) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Bel Cantor 5-1 (8-10) Led, headed 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Tajneed (9-0) at Ripon 6f hcp (4) gs.
