slowly into stride, pushed along early tracking leaders on inside, switched left 2f out, soon tracking winner, wandered both ways under pressure from over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, not look keen
took keen hold, held up tracking leaders in 5th, closer 3f out, ridden disputing 2nd 2f out, carried left and bumped approaching final furlong, keeping on same pace in 4th when slightly impeded inside final furlong
made all, quickened pace 3f out, ridden and battled on gamely final furlong
held up last, headway on wide outside over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked winner until pushed along 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders on outside, one pace in 3rd inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
ROWLAND WARD made a winning start in handicaps when scoring over 1m4f at Doncaster last month. Ralph Beckett’s colt should have no problem with this longer trip and can defy a rise in the weights. A 7lb rise proved beyond Nottingham winner Prefontaine at Newmarket in October though he’s been gelded subsequently and should be stronger this year while Queen Constantine won over a mile last season and takes a big step up in trip after placing over 1m2f on her return. Lord Lamington finished a long way in front of a below par Seeusoon when scoring at Chelmsford but the latter re-opposes on more favourable terms having placed at Chester subsequently.
Prefontaine (IRE) 5-2fav (8-13) Ran in snatches in touch, pushed along halfway, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Skymax (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 2f (2) gd in Oct.
Rowland Ward 9-2 (9-7) Towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Beechwood Jude (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Lord Lamington 5-2 (9-7) Tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, no extra final furlong, last of 5, 10 1/2l behind Emirates Empire (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in May.
Queen Constantine (GER) 8-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on into 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Cuban Sun (8-13) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp fll (5) gs in Apr.
Seeusoon (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Sam Cooke (9-3) at Chester 1m 4f hcp (3) sft in May.
Tidal Point (IRE) 100-1 (9-2) Held up, pushed along over 2f out, reminder 1f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Severance (9-2) at Haydock 1m 4f stks (3) gs in Apr.
