held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, soon in command, edged right in closing stages, ridden out
held up in last trio, outpaced in rear over 3f out, soon struggling, eased when no chance final furlong, tailed off
took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along over 3f out, switched left over 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong and closed on 2nd but no chance with winner
led and set decent pace, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
slowly into stride, held up in rear, switched wide on bend over 4f out, pushed along and struggling over 3f out, never involved
took keen hold in touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
chased leader, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, readily held but kept on for 2nd
Top Diktat is in terrific form and a four-timer isn't out of the question, despite another 6lb rise. Handheld gets on well with Shelley Birkett and the partnership was third on its reappearance at Doncaster. Top Set is lightly raced while Santo Thomas has been hurdling and goes on soft ground. NUMBER ONE LONDON is still a maiden and often flattered to deceive last year but he starts the new campaign on a very attractive mark and has the ability to win a race like this if in the mood. Red Pilgrim, Tight Lipped and Starwatch are also capable and can't be ignored in an open contest.
Top Diktat 7-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway and looking for run over 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd beating Gone Dutch (9-3) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Santo Thomas (FR) 16-1 (8-13) 6th of 7, 6l behind Ideology (8-13) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m stk sft in Jun '09.
Number One London (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 7f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 5l behind Hawker (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Handheld 8-1 (8-7) Led after 1f, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Dark Ruler (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Mar.
Tight Lipped (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, headway 3f out, faded over 1f out, 9th of 16, 18l behind Dark Ruler (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Mar.
Red Pilgrim (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Bumped start in touch, ridden and headway to chase winner over 2f out, edged left and kept on one pace inside final furlong, in a race won by Stomachion (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct, 9 ran.
Top Set (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 4th close home, never nearer, 4th of 12, 11l behind Winterlude (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Jul.
Starwatch 25-1 (8-9) Led early, prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Tobacco Road (9-6) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
