held up in 4th, headway on outer to chase leading pair over 2f out, driven and stayed on same pace final furlong
dwelt, soon switched right start, headway to lead 8f out, soon clear, reduced lead 3f out, hard ridden from 2f out, headed entering final furlong, one pace
soon steadied into 5th, headway over 2f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon weakened
led until 8f out, settled in 2nd, pushed along and closed 3f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on well for pressure
pulled hard, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and one pace when bumped over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, weakened inside final 3f
held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, no chance final 3f
always in rear, lost touch final 4f, tailed off
Paul Cole's Trans Siberian ran better than could have been expected on ground softer than ideal at Newbury last month and he has to be respected on more suitable going today but may have to settle for minor honours behind BASRA, who gets the vote with Martyr rated the best of the rest. The selection has been running consistently well on the Polytrack of late and Jo Crowley's gelding returns to turf on a fair mark so he looks to have been found a suitable opportunity to resume winning ways. Marning Star can race off the same mark as when successful at Haydock last June but has been well held in recent starts on the Polytrack so looks best left out of calculations. Tony Carroll has his team in good heart so Can Can Star has to be considered but he seems to be in the grip of the handicapper at present, while Dean Ivory's Ballinteni has given no real sign of encouragement of late. Richard Hannon's Martyr should be better suited by the underfoot conditions today having been well held on soft ground at Newbury last month and the lightly-raced gelding has to be respected but Basra has an obvious chance and he is preferred.
Ballinteni 33-1 (8-11) Mid-division, not pace to challenge 2f out, soon one pace, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Dubai Dynamo (8-11) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Apr.
Trans Siberian 9-2 (9-3) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased winner 2f out, no impression and weakened final furlong, 5th of 13, 6l behind Invasian (8-4) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
Basra (IRE) 9-4 (9-4) In touch, ridden and switched right approaching final furlong, no impression, 4th of 6, 4l behind Royal Amnesty (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Martyr 14-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, never in contention, last of 13, 20l behind Invasian (8-4) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
Can Can Star 17-2 (8-13) Slowly into stride, soon pushed along towards rear, headway on inside 2f out, driven to chase leaders over 1f out, soon one pace, no impression final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Forgotten Voice (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr.
Marning Star 11-2 (8-9) Raced keenly, tracked leader until over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 3, 7l behind Spinning (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcap (4) pol in Feb.
Alpes Maritimes 3-1 (8-13) Keen, chased leading pair, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 4l behind Planetary Motion (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Zaif (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, weakened well over 2f out, soon eased, last of 8, 43l behind Ainama (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
