led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, kept on one pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong
in touch towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
in touch in rear, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced 2f out
keen tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final 2f, ran on
tracked leaders, wide and headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong
The betting suggested KNIGHTSWOOD would return to form at Ripon and he duly won with plenty to spare. He’s penalised for that but today’s opposition looks distinctly modest. Franco Grasso finished tailed off last time having won at Yarmouth earlier while Robert Johnson landed a double on slow ground before beaten over 2m and the veteran Just Hiss hasn’t won on Turf since 2020.
Knightswood (IRE) 7-4fav (9-10) Chased leader until over 9f out, led 3f out, edged right over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (5) gf in Jun beating Gastronomy (9-9) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Brasca 66-1 (10-0) Held up off the pace towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Divine Comedy (9-11) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (5) gf in May.
Wontgetfooledagen (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Chased leader, pushed along weakened home turn,, 5th of 7, 12 1/2l behind Kiss My Face (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Franco Grasso 9-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, driven and outpaced over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Divine Comedy (9-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
Robert Johnson 5-2fav (9-5) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, switched right and headway inside 2f out, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, keeping on when not much room well inside final furlong, unable to get on terms, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Flint Hill (9-10) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) gd in May.
Just Hiss 11-2 (9-11) Steadied start, held up in last trio, steady headway on inside 3f out, soon not clear run, weakened final 2f, 7th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Bearwith (9-9) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (6) gf in May.