raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, lost 2nd final 100 yards, no extra towards finish
tracked leader and keen, led over 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed inside final furlong, found bit extra towards finish
held up in last trio, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final 3f
led until ridden and headed over 2f out, 2f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened quickly and hampered inside final 2f
held up in 5th, pushed along 3f out, headway out wide over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards and closed, just held
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway and plugged on from over 1f out, never going pace to reach leaders
held up in rear, headway out wide, plugged on final furlong, never going pace to get involved
Grey Fox won here and at Newmarket last summer but was well beaten upped to this grade at Nottingham in the autumn. Flyin' High has useful all-weather form but a bit to prove on Turf but Tregony won here in the midst of a four-timer last summer and also scored in a higher grade at Newcastle when last seen. After finishing second in her first two starts, the beautifully-bred DARLECTABLE YOU took her chance in the Cheshire Oaks around this time last year but she didn’t handle the track or the soft going. A win would increase her paddocks value considerably which is why she’s been kept in training. Mercian Hymn won his final two starts last year but both were on artificial surfaces and over further.
Flyin' High 7-1 (9-5) Soon held up in touch, improved over 2f out, kept on final furlong, unable to get on terms, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Proclaimer (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Tregony 14-1 (8-8) Raced keenly tracking leaders, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Sep beating Chichester (9-10) by 1l, 9 ran.
Darlectable You 9-2 (9-0) Raced keenly, held up in 5th, pushed along and struggling 5f out, soon behind, eased when no chance final furlong, 6th of 7, 16 3/4l behind Dubai Fountain (9-0) at Chester 1m 3f lst fll (1) gs in May.
Atheeb 80-1 (9-2) Raced keenly towards rear of mid-division, effort out wide and hung badly right 3f out, never on terms, last of 13, 11 1/4l behind Sarvan (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Apr.
Fast Steps (IRE) 66-1 (9-4) Off the pace and always towards rear, 16th of 20, 22 3/4l behind Moktasaab (9-7) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Mercian Hymn 13-8fav (9-2) Steadied start, raced keenly in 3rd on inside, went 2nd over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden and quickened clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating Torbellino (9-1) by 5l, 8 ran.
Grey Fox (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Towards rear, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong, 9th of 15, 10 1/4l behind Rogue Bear (9-8) at Nottingham 1m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
The Whipmaster (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Held up off the pace and always towards rear, 12th of 13, 11 1/2l behind Athers (8-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
