made all, hung right under pressure over 1f out, stayed on well
tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, progress to challenge 2f out, soon one pace, weakened closing stages
held up, pushed along halfway, kept on well, never on terms
chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened eased
with leader, hard driven over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
PEARL NOIR has won ten of 94 starts and likes it around here. He's only 2lb higher than last month's victory at Thirsk and his rivals are out of form. Longroom finished last at Thirsk which clearly wasn't his form and he was in double-winning form on good going last summer after which he went up 11lb. African Friend, a Windsor maiden winner around this trip a year ago, hasn't got to grips so far this campaign but has dropped to a fair mark as a consequence. Computable, whose only victory came in 2016, likes fast ground as he showed on his reappearance at Thirsk and he's gradually coming down the ratings. One Boy, who has had wind surgery, managed to win a couple of races last summer but hasn't been in the best of form this campaign nor has Apricot Sky, whose last victory was in a soft-ground claimer in October.
Longroom 8-1 (9-6) Chased leaders over 3f, last of 14, 22 3/4l behind Tanasoq (9-3) at Thirsk 5f hcp (4) gf in May.
African Friend (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, always in rear, last of 7, 16 3/4l behind Dapper Man (8-9) at Hamilton 5f hcp (5) gf in May.
Computable 10-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led just 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra, 9th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Primo's Comet (9-3) at Newcastle 5f hcp (5) pol in Jun.
One Boy (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Outpaced towards rear, never on terms, last of 9, 18 1/2l behind Dapper Man (9-3) at Ripon 5f hcp (5) gf in May.
Apricot Sky 50-1 (9-9) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 13th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Primo's Comet (9-3) at Newcastle 5f hcp (5) pol in Jun.
Pearl Noir 3-1 (9-7) Prominent, led 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, faded, 4th of 9, 4l behind Mr Strutter (9-6) at Catterick 5f hcp (6) gd in Jun.