slowly away, lost several lengths at start, detached before halfway, ridden when made very modest headway from 2f out, never in contention
soon prominent down centre, chased leaders 1f out, ran on strongly when led inside final 110 yards, kept on well near finish, always doing enough
slowly away, soon in touch, ridden 2f out, every chance when ridden before 1f out, took fourth but only one pace inside final furlong
raced alone on near side, always towards rear, badly outpaced from before 1f out, finished seven lengths detached
prominent down centre, chased leaders from 2f out, ridden but unable to quicken inside final furlong, kept on
close up down centre, pushed along 2f out, ridden when took third before 1f out, outpaced by front pair inside final 110 yards, kept on
led down centre, ridden inside final furlong, headed inside final 110 yards, kept up but no match for winner final strides
towards rear of main group early, chased leaders 2f out, asked for effort but found little and weakened inside final furlong
held up, chased leaders 2f out, outpaced before 1f out kept on inside final furlong for modest sixth
Strong Johnson was four lengths behind May Blossom on soft going at Nottingham in July and is only 2lb better off. Princess Karine had the latter behind when scoring at Carlisle earlier and got her head back in front last time so is much respected while Khabib has running better than form figures would suggest. Betweenthesticks has dipped below his last winning mark but has been struggling to get his head in front this year. This is CANARIA QUEEN’s trip, as she showed last time at Musselburgh, and Tim Easterby’s filly is potentially well treated at present.
May Blossom 10-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, pushed along and switched right well over 1f out, soon headway and went 4th over 1f out, ridden 1f out, kept on and every chance final 110 yards, held towards finish, 3rd of 9, nk behind Mattice (9-2) at Beverley 5f hcp (4) hvy in Sep.
Strong Johnson (IRE) 4-1fav (9-7) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 15 1/4l behind Rathbone (9-13) at Doncaster 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Princess Karine 9-4 (9-7) Made most, pushed along approaching final furlong, hung right final furlong, ran on, won at Musselburgh 5f hcp (4) gs in Sep beating Rock Melody (9-9) by 1l, 4 ran.
American Star (IRE) 28-1 (9-13) Prominent, took keen hold, ridden 2f out, hung right and lost place over 1f out, well beaten inside final furlong, last of 14, 8 1/4l behind Gulliver (10-0) at Southwell 6f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Khabib (IRE) 17-2 (9-8) Front mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon every chance, weakened final 110 yards, 4th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Secret Guest (9-10) at Redcar 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Betweenthesticks 9-2 (9-11) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed close home, 3rd of 9, 1/4l behind Nelson Gay (9-13) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Vadamiah (IRE) 33-1 (8-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Designer (9-3) at York 5f hcp fll (2) gf in Aug.
Canaria Queen 5-2 (8-13) Tracked leader, pushed along over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Musselburgh 5f stks (5) gs in Sep beating Sacred Falls (8-13) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Northcliff (IRE) 22-1 (9-9) Chased leaders far side of group, went 2nd inside final 2f until inside final furlong, weakened and lost two places towards finish, 5th of 20, 2 1/2l behind Aconcagua Mountain (8-12) at Ayr 5f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Ecclesiastical 7-2fav (9-8) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Nelson Gay (9-13) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
