tracked leaders, ridden and lost place over 2f out, well beaten over 1f out
tracked leaders, switched right 3f out, led 2f out, clear 1f out, reduced lead well inside final furlong but only pushed out
slowly into stride, always in rear
led, headed 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, well beaten from over 1f out
dwelt, held up towards rear, switched right 3f out, effort 2f out, went 3rd final furlong, kept on, no impression
held up in mid-division, effort over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
went left start, soon tracking leader, every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
dwelt, held up in rear, well beaten final 2f
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, switched left over 2f out, went 2nd from over 1f out, held but closed on winner well inside final furlong
History Writer has won two handicaps here and his last success came in Listed company on very heavy ground at Saint-Cloud in November 2019. Epic Endeavour ended last season with three victories from four starts, two on soft ground. He's 6lb higher in this slightly better company and has an absence to overcome. RANSOM has only had three runs, all on Polytrack, completing a double before finding a slow pace against him over 7f at Kempton. He can do better than that and gets the vote though Semser, a recruit from France, won at Lyon in December and could be on a fair mark. Imperial Command has won three of his last five on Tapeta at Newcastle but has scored on soft ground at Haydock.
History Writer (IRE) 40-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride and switched left to race in main group, held up towards rear, smooth headway travelling well 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 8th of 27, 3 1/4l behind River Nymph (9-0) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) sft in May.
Dashing Roger 16-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, close up, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, ridden and rallied final furlong, 4th of 8, at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in May.
Mustarrid (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Slowly away, in rear, pushed along to close over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 23 3/4l behind Brentford Hope (9-5) at Nottingham 1m hcp (2) sft in May.
Epic Endeavour (IRE) 7-2fav (9-6) Raced keenly in 4th behind clear leading pair, closer over 2f out, soon switched left, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, led and hung left just inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Windsor 1m hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Mostawaa (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Newbolt (IRE) 18-1 (8-8) Mid-division, pushed along and struggling to go pace 3f out, weakened and behind soon after, 13th of 16, 9 3/4l behind Nugget (8-9) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Ransom 6-5fav (9-0) Raced keenly, held up in 5th, pushed along out wide over 2f out, kept on late but never going pace to challenge, 4th of 6, 3 3/4l behind Tiger Crusade (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in May.
Imperial Command (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Midfield, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Live Your Dream (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Apr.
Gin Palace 11-2 (9-5) Slowly away, pulled hard early in rear, carried right over 2f out, ridden for effort 2f out, kept on over 1f out, no extra 1/2f out, 5th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Keyser Soze (9-3) at Ascot 1m hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Semser (9-2) won at Lyon La Soie 1m 1f stks pol in Dec beating Red Dynamite (9-1) by hd, 16 ran.
Sword Beach (IRE) 13-2 (9-12) Midfield, ridden over 2f out, no extra, 6th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Madame Peltier (9-7) at Newbury 1m hcp (5) gs in May.
