held up in touch, pushed along in 5th inner entering straight, ridden and kept on one pace from over 1f out
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress to 2nd entering straight, challenged and led over 1f out, ridden and kept on well
led, ran freely early, challenged and headed over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, 6th and ridden entering straight, kept on without threatening to go 4th close home
tracked leaders, 4th outer entering straight, ridden and went 3rd over 1f out, kept on
upset in stalls, prominent, 2nd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 4th over 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace
dwelt, held up in rear, pushed along before halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, never a factor
The once-very smart MAAREK hasn't been beaten far in tough handicaps this summer and is no forlorn hope to add to his tally of 14 career victories so gets the vote. Opening Verse showed the benefit of a promising start with an all-the-way victory over 7f at Cork so dropping back in trip won't be a problem. Check My Pulse finished last of six here in June but his earlier form put him in the picture while That's Not Me has been running well, though is held by Mary Salome on their run at Cork in October. The latter also won at Limerick in April and further rain would aid her cause. Scorching Heat had some excellent form for Andrew Balding in 2017 but hasn't run since beaten at Chelmsford last summer and has changed stables.
Scorching Heat 6-1 (9-2) Raced wide in touch, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Cenotaph (8-11) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (3) pol in Jun.
Sirjack Thomas (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Towards rear on outer, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, some progress over 1f out, kept on one pace, never a factor, 11th of 18, 7 1/4l behind Waitingfortheday (10-0) at Galway 1m hcp gd in Aug.
Lincoln (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Pushed along briefly early, soon led, headed before halfway, led again 2f out, joined inside final furlong, soon headed and no extra, 8th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Make A Challenge (9-7) at Galway 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Maarek 33-1 (8-4) Soon towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, soon no impression, stayed on well without threatening inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 2 1/2l behind El Astronaute (9-13) at Curragh 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Opening Verse (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Soon led, pushed along and asserted over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, reduced advantage close home, won at Cork 7f mdn gd in Apr beating Limit Long (9-5) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Mary Salome (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Mid-division, checked after 1f, soon rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, under pressure over 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Black Magic Woman (8-8) at Gowran Park 7f hcp fll gd in Jun.
Woods (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Close up, ridden over 2f out, not pace to challenge inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 7 1/2l behind Gambon (9-0) at Leicester 7f mdn stks (5) gf in Jul.
Check My Pulse (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Chased leaders in 2nd, ridden halfway, dropped to 4th under 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 13 1/2l behind Master Matt (9-2) at Sligo 6f gd in Jun.
That's Not Me (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Soon led and disputed, travelling smoothly straight, pushed along from 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Mid Winster (9-6) at Fairyhouse 6f hcp gd in Jul.
