tracked leader, pushed along 2f out, no impression when hard-ridden 1f out, kept on for 3rd closing stages
prominent and disputed lead, ridden before 2f out, kept on gamely when faced strong challenge from 1f out, weakened inside final 110 yards
close up and pulled hard early stages, toward rear after home turn and soon tailed off
mid-division, ridden towards rear 2f out, soon weakened and tailed off
tracked leader and raced freely, shaken up after 2f out, no impression after 1f out
towards rear, pushed along 2f out, switched right and ran on strongly after 1f out, led going away closing stages
held up towards rear, shaken up and headway 2f out, made strong challenge and led narrowly after 1f out, kept on but headed closing stages, held post
close up and disputed lead, ridden before 2f out, kept on gamely when faced strong challenge from 1f out, weakened inside final 110 yards
This looks a competitive finale with Realist near the foot of the weights despite making a winning reappearance over this trip at Chelmsford. IMPULSIVE ONE failed to handle heavy going when tried over 1m2f at the end of last season. He made a very satisfactory return to action in a decent contest at Ripon and gets another chance over this longer distance. Encounter Order should do well in handicaps this season with a similar comment applying to Ballycommon. Tricolore won at Wolverhampton last month and Golden Dove won over 1m1f here in October. Greystoke is a bit more exposed but can’t be ignored.
Impulsive One (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Close up, ridden and headway entering final 2f, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Grantley (8-7) at Ripon 1m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Encounter Order (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Set Point (9-5) at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (5) sft in Oct.
Ballycommon (IRE) 15-2 (9-8) Pressed leader until led over 4f out, headed over 1f out, weakened quickly final furlong, 5th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Baradar (9-8) at York 7f stks (3) sft in Oct.
Tricolore (ITY) 9-4fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear, not clear run over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Mar beating The Thunderer (9-6) by 3l, 9 ran.
Golden Dove 33-1 (9-0) Midfield on inside, switched right and chased leaders over 3f out, drifted right under pressure over 1f out, kept on strongly to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Redcar 1m 1f stks (5) sft in Oct beating Ron O (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Greystoke 9-2 (8-11) Close up, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Apr beating Rich Dream (9-4) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Realist 2-1fav (9-7) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on outside over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged left, clear inside final furlong, readily, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Apr beating Kabuto (9-5) by 4 3/4l, 6 ran.
Percy Willis 12-1 (9-6) Held up in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, kept on at one pace from 2f out, 8th of 12, 17 1/4l behind Sonning (9-3) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Apr.
