chased leaders until 2f out
outpaced behind
in touch, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, one pace
chased leaders, weakened final furlong
always outpaced behind
held up, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on well
led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, one pace
mid-division, effort on outer over 2f out, soon headway, kept on final furlong
chased leader, weakened inside final furlong
always towards rear
mid-division, weakened final furlong
held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, effort over 2f out, no impression
always behind, tailed off from over 1f out
Geojimali was good value for his win at Musselburgh earlier this month and may have been value for more than his neck winning margin so is taken to defy a 4lb rise in the weights, with the main threats looking to be Out After Dark and Viking Spirit. The last mentioned showed consistent form at the end of last season and has solid claims on that evidence but Walter Swinburn has made a slow start to the current campaign so he may be best watched. David Nicholls, by comparison, has his string in flying form so his representative Coeur Courageux has to be respected and makes more appeal than stablemate Turnkey, who would probably want a softer surface. Obe Gold may do better now dropped back to a more suitable trip, while another Nicholls runner Machinist could probably do with some help from the handicapper. Charles Darwin is entitled to strip fitter for his reappearance run at Nottingham earlier this month and is another to consider along with Out After Dark, who has every chance on the pick of his form but lacks a recent run. That is not a problem for Geojimali though and he is taken to win again.
Out After Dark 10-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 18, 2l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft in Oct.
Turnkey 16-1 (8-8) Slowly away, in rear, kept on final 2f, never troubled leaders, 7th of 8, 7l behind Fire Up The Band (9-1) at Nottingham 5f stk (4) gf.
Sir Xaar (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Giganticus (8-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Viking Spirit 3-1fav (8-10) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Maltese Falcon (8-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Coleorton Dancer 8-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 16th of 18, 18l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft in Oct.
Obe Gold 8-1 (8-13) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression, 11th of 13, 6l behind Giganticus (8-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Zomerlust 16-1 (8-11) Towards rear, pushed along and headway 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Giganticus (8-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Kostar 11-2fav (8-9) Prominent, ridden to challenge over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Red Cape (8-8) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Mar.
Mr Wolf 10-1 (8-11) Disputed lead until halfway, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Texas Gold (9-0) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Oct.
Machinist (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Reared start, soon tracking leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Lady Livius (8-9) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Mar.
Fantasy Explorer 9-2fav (8-9) Prominent, ridden 2f out, one pace, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 16, 5l behind Sierra Vista (9-3) at Haydock 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sept.
Coeur Courageux (FR) 40-1 (8-6) Held up and behind, headway on inside well over 1f out, never near leaders, 6th of 11, 6l behind Ajigolo (8-6) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Mar.
Connect 8-1 (9-1) Slightly hampered leaving stalls, in rear, headway and effort over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 8, 4l behind Distinctly Game (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Commando Scott (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Prominent, driven over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 5l behind Bustan (9-1) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-90 (3).
Geojimali 8-1 (8-10) Steadied start, held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, soon headway, switched right inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards the finish, won at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Handsome Cross (9-7) by a nk, 12 ran.
Tara Too (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden halfway, soon weakened, 15th of 16, 13l behind Firenze (8-13) at Newmarket 6f lst fll stk (1) gs in Oct.
Charles Darwin (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Fire Up The Band (9-1) at Nottingham 5f stk (4) gf.