tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led near finish (hand timed)
raced keenly, held up tracking leaders, closer halfway, ridden and weakened over 1f out
chased leading trio, pushed along 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, lost 3rd close home
steadied start, raced keenly and held up last, headway between horses over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd close home
led, joined 2f out, kept on well until headed near finish
chased leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, soon weakened
Withdrawn
A winner at Thirsk last month, Helovaplan failed to cope with a rise in the weights last time and Dawaaleeb found a 9lb hike beyond him at Ripon recently. Michele Strogoff has placed off today’s mark on four consecutive occasions while better was expected from the unexposed Hakeem at Sandown on his handicap debut though it’s too soon to write him off. MON BEAU VISAGE (NAP) landed a double over today’s distance last August and has returned to a winning mark. A recent second at Doncaster suggests he’ll be winning again soon and David O’Meara’s charge gets the vote.
Dawaaleeb (USA) 5-2 (9-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Gurkha Friend (9-7) at Ripon 1m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Elusive Heights (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Held up, beaten over 2f out, last of 11, 9 3/4l behind Scofflaw (8-8) at Catterick 7f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Helovaplan (IRE) 5-4fav (9-13) Towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Club Wexford (9-1) at Ayr 1m hcp (4) gf in May.
Mon Beau Visage (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway going well 3f out, chased winner 1f out, stayed on, unable to challenge, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Flying North (9-7) at Doncaster 1m hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Michele Strogoff 7-2fav (8-11) Led, ridden when hard pressed over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, kept on, held near finish, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Keeper's Choice (8-6) at Newbury 1m hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Kit Marlowe 7-1 (9-7) Keen led, headed 7f out, tracked winner until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 20 3/4l behind Epaulement (9-0) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Withernsea (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 15, 3l behind Original Choice (9-1) at Wetherby 1m hcp (2) gs in May.
Hakeem 4-1 (8-11) Led 2f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 11 1/2l behind Chiefofchiefs (8-12) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gd in May.
