prominent, lost ground on front pair 4th, closed before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, headed close home
led, not fluent 3rd, dived at next, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 4 out, led after next, jumped right and not fluent 2 out, mistake and headed last, rallied flat, led close home
mistakes, towards rear, well beaten after 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, remote 7th 3 out, soon well beaten, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, switched right before next, stayed on same pace
towards rear, well beaten after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, last 5th, well beaten from next, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place 4th, 6th 3 out, plugged on for modest 4th flat
held up in rear, remote 8th 3 out, plugged on, went never dangerous 5th flat
prominent, led before 3 out, headed after hurdle, weakened before last
Knight Commander may do better now eased in grade and is a previous course and distance winner, as is Glimpse Of Gold. The Groove has been good form up to a mile on the Flat but has never given any indication that he stays this far. Wenceslaus carries a penalty for winning a novices’ handicap at Plumpton while Never A Word, though often placed, is now 0-19 in career starts. BUMBLE BAY hasn’t won since 2016 but is now 19lb lower and two recent runs around here suggest he may be ready to take advantage.
Knight Commander 16-1 (11-10) Held up in touch on outside, some headway approaching 5th, pushed along and no impression before 3 out, 7th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Blushing Red (11-11) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Never A Word (USA) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, outpaced after next, stayed on flat, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Gaelic Flow (10-0) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Wenceslaus (GER) 7-2 (11-2) Mid-division, closed 3 out, went 2nd next, led when not fluent last, pushed clear, comfortably, won at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) gf in Oct beating Kristal Hart (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Talk Of Monty 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, weakened 3 out, modest 4th, tailed off, 4th of 8, 35l behind Yensir (11-2) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Fiosrach (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Always behind, struggling 4 out, blundered and unseated rider next, at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Glimpse Of Gold 14-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 7th of 17, 29 1/4l behind Unsafe Conduct (12-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in May.
Oliver's Island (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, soon outpaced, plugged on and no impression, 5th of 6, 15 3/4l behind Bostin (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (5) gf in May.
The Groove 9-4fav (9-5) Slowly into stride, towards rear early, headway on inside into mid-division over 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden into narrow lead inside final furlong, headed and no extra final 110 yards, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Livvys Dream (9-4) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Hallingham 17-2 (10-8) Off the pace in last pair, jumped slowly 1st and 4th, dropped to rear 6th, mistake next, left poor 4th 3 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Dark Invader (11-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Bumble Bay 11-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, chased leaders 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Third Estate (12-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Tingo In The Tale (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, never pace to challenge, 7th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Handy Hollow (11-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
