held up in rear, headway halfway, chased leaders over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
chased leaders, lost place over 6f out, rallied approaching final furlong, stayed on, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, led over 4f out, driven clear over 2f out, stayed on strongly
led, pulled hard, headed over 7f out, weakened over 4f out
stumbled start, tracked leader, led over 7f out, headed over 4 out, soon rallied, kept on same pace
held up in rear, headway over 6f out, driven to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
The penalised Royal Marksell beat Layline a short-head over 1m6f here last week and the latter re-opposes on better terms. The former also beat JACOBS SON over a longer trip at the track back in May but Mike Appleby's charge has since won over 1m3f here and has the beating of Mishrif on earlier form. He gets the vote over today's distance with stablemate Brassbound and Puzzle Time harder to fancy.
Puzzle Time 33-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden and not quicken well over 1f out, weakened soon after, 7th of 10, 9l behind Solidarity (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Jacobs Son 16-1 (9-9) Raced wide keen close up, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 24l behind Uncle Bernie (9-2) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp (4) in Nov.
Royal Marskell 10-3 (9-3) Dwelt ,keen in rear, headway on outer from over 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, driven and joined inside final furlong, held on, all out, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs beating Layline (9-5) by shd, 7 ran.
Mishrif (USA) 16-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 20l behind Frontline Phantom (8-8) at Yarmouth 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug.
Brassbound (USA) 9-2fav (9-0) Rear of mid-division, ridden 2f out, not clear run inside final furlong, kept on close home, 7th of 14, 6l behind Ansgar (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 60-90 pol in Oct '12.
Layline (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Close up, ridden 2f out, effort entering final furlong, soon pressed winner, driven and edged left, just held, all out, 2nd of 7, shd behind Royal Marskell (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.