raced keenly in mid-division, headway tracking leaders home turn, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 2f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
chased leaders out wide, pushed along 4f out, weakened quickly over 3f out, tailed off and eased final 2f
mid-division out wide, ridden and beaten over 3f out
held up in mid-division, weakened final 2f
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6f out, pushed along and every chance over inside final 3f soon ridden and weakened inside final 2f
switched left start, held up in rear, headway on inside 4f out, not much room on rail and squeezed through 2f out, plugged on final furlong
held up towards rear, headway out wide chasing leaders over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, led towards finish
held up towards rear, headway out wide over 1f out, stayed on same pace in 4th inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened soon after
raced wide in mid-division, weakened 3f out
tracked leader 4f, remained handy, wandered and weakened inside final 2f
held up towards rear, good headway out wide over 2f out, led going well 2f out, ridden and headed towards finish
slowly into stride and switched left start, held up and behind, never a factor
NonRunner
This looks a competitive finale. Contrast won at Nottingham when last on Turf and has placed twice since at Newcastle. Third at Doncaster at the start of the month, Lunar Jet is a previous course and distance winner while Benadalid was only beaten a nose by AONE ALLY, representing Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell, on Town Moor. The latter can confirm the form, however, only a pound worse off. Natchez Trace is only 1-16 on Turf and having a first run since October while Morning Sun is best watched making his debut for new connections. Richard P Smith may be high enough in the weights on his return but the lightly-raced Flag Of Truth is worth a market check.
Natchez Trace 16-1 (8-6) Prominent, led 9f out, headed over 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 6th of 10, 11 1/2l behind Belloccio (9-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Baikal 22-1 (10-9) Mid-division, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, weakened quickly home turn, not fluent 2 out, 6th of 7, 32 1/2l behind Arqoob (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Mar.
Merseyside (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Led after 1f, headed 3f out, soon beaten, eased, 10th of 11, dist behind Omniscient (9-12) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Richard P Smith (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway out wide over 3f out, led in centre over 2f out, ridden and clear when hung left to far rail inside final furlong, stayed on well, eased towards finish, won at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (6) sft in Oct beating Fen Tiger (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Flag Of Truth (FR) 8-1 (9-4) In touch, pushed along and headway over 1f out, stayed on, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 6 1/2l behind Counsel (9-11) at Lingfield 7f stks (5) pol in Jul.
Morning Sun (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Soon shuffled back towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway out wide under pressure 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Snapcracklepop (8-13) at Windsor 1m hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Lunar Jet 4-1 (10-1) Close up, pushed along 3f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong to press for 2nd close home, 3rd of 12, 6 1/4l behind Don't Look Back (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Apr.
Benadalid 16-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, pressed inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 9, shd behind Aone Ally (9-8) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Apr.
Aone Ally 5-2fav (9-8) Keen in touch, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, led final strides, won at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Apr beating Benadalid (9-13) by ns, 9 ran.
Red Astaire 22-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along well over 2f out, kept on same pace, 8th of 11, 3 1/4l behind The Cookstown Cafu (9-2) at Pontefract 1m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Cusack 8-1 (9-8) Mid-division on inside, headway on outside 2f out, led final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Pallas Lord (9-11) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Contrast (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went third 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 9, 4 3/4l behind Qaasid (9-11) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Soaring Star (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, soon outpaced, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Cusack (9-8) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Kalahari Prince (IRE) 5-1 (9-12) Dwelt, towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms, 8th of 9, 16 1/2l behind Aone Ally (9-8) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Apr.
