tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along over 3f out, staying on same pace and held when carried left 1f out
raced keenly, led, shaken up over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, soon no extra
tracked leaders, going well when not clear run and switched sharply left 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led post
held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, chased leading pair 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, outpaced to 3rd close home
tracked leader, led entering final furlong, stayed on, headed post
steadied start, held up in last pair, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, soon carried left
chased leading trio, went 3rd 4f out, pushed laong over 3f out, lost 3rd 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Proofreader didn't handle the turns too well at Chester but stayed on late into third. He should be more at home here but all of his form is on ground with plenty of give. Duke Of Clarence won over 1m2f here three weeks ago but has yet to prove he stays this far, though still appears the pick of his stable's two runners. Icebuster is probably a shade high in the weights now and this may be too hot for Sula Two while Mawaakef usually finds at least one good. But there are possibilities about Roxy Flyer and USTURA, even though both are returning from a break. We'll give the vote to the Godolphin gelding, who may have a bit more scope for improvement and did nothing wrong when second over this trip at Haydock in the autumn.
Roxy Flyer (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden and headway over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Media Hype (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f Listed stks (1) pol in Nov.
Proofreader 4-1fav (9-7) Raced wide towards rear, ran wide winning post bend, headway and not clear run over 1f out, ran on to go a never dangerous 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Tres Coronas (9-1) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Ustura (USA) 5-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, no chance, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Brockwell (8-9) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sep.
Mawaakef (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Always in rear, weakened 2f out, last of 10, 19l behind Beyond Conceit (8-13) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.
Duke Of Clarence (IRE) 9-4 (9-4) Led early, tracked leader, challenged 2f out, soon led and went to rail, ridden and joined inside final furlong, edged left found extra and always holding on in closing stages, won at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Apr beating Hanseatic (9-3) by nk, 8 ran.
Icebuster 9-1 (8-10) Dwelt towards rear, headway over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 5l behind Boonga Roogeta (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf.
Sula Two 25-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd final 100 yards, lost 2nd final 75 yards, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Attwaal (9-2) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Shelford (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, chased clear leader until over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 28l behind Seaside Sizzler (9-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (0-90) (3) pol in Apr.
Aldwick Bay (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Held up in touch, went 3rd over 3f out, driven to challenge and hung left 2f out, continued to hang left and weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 7l behind Guising (8-13) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Apr.
