prominent on outer, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch in rear, headway between horses over 1f out, ridden to join winner inside final furlong when hung left and no extra near finish
awkward leaving stalls and lost 10 lengths, recovered over 4f out, weakened halfway
made all, ridden when pressed over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened and carried left inside final furlong
racked winner until ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
Great Nicanor's much improved effort over a longer trip at Wolverhampton last time gives him a chance if he takes to the Fibresand, but DUKE LIAM looks a safer proposition. Dandy Nicholl's charge found only the odds-on shot Fistful Of Dollars one too good over C&D last week and can find enough improvement to go one better today. Cat Queen is thoroughly exposed and the remainder have shown little to recommend them so far, though Kingshill Lad may do better with last month's debut at Lingfield under his belt.
Duke Liam (IRE) 22-1 (9-3) Raced wide, chased leaders, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, edged left and stayed on to go 2nd near finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Fistful of Dollars (9-3) at Southwell 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs.
Great Nicanor (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon headed and weakened, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Shihab (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Kingshill Lad (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) Dwelt, behind, headway and in touch on outside over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 8l behind Miriam's Song (8-12) at Lingfield 6f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Cat Queen 16-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon faded, 4th of 12, 9l behind Maybeagrey (9-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Green Mountain (IRE) 50-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, headway 6f out, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 7, 23l behind Snowed In (8-9) at Kempton 1m 2yo clm stks (6) pol in Nov.
Red Hermes (IRE) 13-2 (8-6) Dwelt and slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 8, 6l behind One More Roman (8-11) at Lingfield 6f 2yo sell stks (6) pol.