mid-division, headway 3f out, chased winner 2f out to over 1f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead well over 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well
mid-division, driven to chase leaders when not clear run 3f out, switched right and ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, no impression
held up in rear, ridden 4f out, headway on out side over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner
led, headed well over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leader, headway to challenge 4f out, lost place 2f out, soon ridden and beaten
behind, lost touch over 2f out, weakened and eased final furlong
Court of Appeal has an obvious chance to complete a hat-trick and Brian Ellison's gelding is taken to do so at the main expense of French Mannequin and King Flyer. The last mentioned has a nice racing weight for his return to turf but has an absence to overcome and may be best watched at present. Loop The Loup resumed winning ways over two miles in a similar contest at Chepstow last time but has more to do at the weights today over a trip that is short of his best. Stablemate Spitting Image has plenty to do at the weights and of more interest may be Lucky Judge, who has claims on the pick of his form but has not been running up to his best of late. Ipledgeallegiance is difficult to fancy and a bigger threat is likely to come from French Mannequin, who comes here on the back of a win in a Musselburgh handicap last time and receives plenty of weight. However, Court Of Appeal has an obvious chance at the weights and over a trip that suits he gets the vote.
Court of Appeal 10-11fav (9-9) Held up, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Catterick 1m 4f clm (6) gf beating Tomasino (9-12) by a hd, 9 ran.
Loop The Loup 11-8fav (9-13) Held up in touch, headway 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m clm (6) gf in Jul beating Spitting Image (9-8) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ipledgeallegiance (USA) 7-1 (7-7) Dwelt and early reminders, towards rear, headway and in touch halfway, came wide entering straight, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 16l behind Cosmic Case (8-6) at Musselburgh 1m 5f app hcp (F) gf in Jul '04.
King Flyer (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Always behind, ridden and struggling 5f out, virtually pulled up, last of 13, well behind Paradise Flight (8-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp (E3) pol in Jan.
Spitting Image (IRE) 15-8 (9-8) Held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, chased winner from 2f out, no impression, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Loop The Loup (9-13) at Chepstow 2m clm (6) gf in Jul.
French Mannequin (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leader, headway over 6f out to lead over 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m amt hcp (6) gf in Jul beating Ellway Heights (11-3) by 3l, 6 ran.
Discomania 25-1 (8-7) Stumbled at start, pulled hard and behind, some headway over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 10th of 12, 24l behind Blue Bajan (8-7) at Leicester 1m 4f stk 0-65 (5) gf in Jun.
Lucky Judge 8-1 (8-10) Never better than mid-division, 9th of 15, 17l behind Villago (7-9) at Thirsk 2m hcp (5) gd in Jul.