behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, headway over 5f out, chased leaders over 3f out, faded approaching final furlong
made all, strongly challenged 2f out, hung left inside final furlong, kept on well
chased leaders, under pressure over 3f out, soon weakened
prominent, lost place over 2f out, eased over 1f out, pulled up
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never on terms
held up, headway over 2f out, soon no impression, eased final furlong
tracked leaders, keen, every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
High Command returns to action off a 10lb higher mark than when winning at Southwell in December. The veteran Sunny Future has done all his winning so far both here and at Bath but was below par at the latter track when behind runner-up Plymouth Sound. Winning hurdler Volpone Jelois is rated higher over timber than Harry Hunt and Paul Nicholls’ charge won on the Flat when trained in France but another chance goes to GOING UP. The latter faced a stiff task in a valuable handicap at Newmarket on his reappearance but won a maiden over today’s trip on the all-weather last year and this looks more his level.
Going Up (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 17 3/4l behind Frontiersman (9-10) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in May.
High Command (IRE) 1-4fav (9-13) Raced keenly, led 1f, tracked leaders, 2nd over 8f out, led again 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind El Campeon (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Mark Hopkins 20-1 (8-11) Soon led, raced keenly and set steady pace, pushed along and quickened 3f out, headed over 1f out, chased winner, well held when lost 2nd and one pace inside final furlong, lost 3rd post, 4th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Appeared (9-4) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in May.
Harry Hunt 9-4fav (11-8) Made most, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure when hard pressed for 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Minella Tweet (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (4) gf in May.
Stock Hill Fair 10-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, effort on inner over 2f out, stayed on same pace closing stages, 3rd of 12, 4 3/4l behind Satellite (9-7) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp (3) sft in Aug.
Plymouth Sound 3-1 (9-4) Close up in 4th, headway over 2f out, soon chased winner, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Mornington (9-7) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (4) fm in May.
Sunny Future (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Led, pushed along and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 4, 11 1/2l behind Mornington (9-7) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (4) fm in May.
Volpone Jelois (FR) 2-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, pushed along before 2 out, challenged from 2 out, upsides and every chance last, just held on for well held 2nd, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Beau Du Brizais (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Bostonian 2-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, lost place 2f out, 5th of 6, 27 1/4l behind Three Colours Red (10-8) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Apr.