held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish
in touch in 4th, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened
towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, soon weakened
led, ridden over 2f out, headed 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear and keen, ridden inside final furlong, one pace
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
tracked leader, lost place 2f out
slowly away, in rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, no extra
EARTH DRUMMER has a 9lb hike in the weights to contend with but drew clear of the field to win easily at Ayr last time. It could pay to stick with David O'Meara's charge given most of these have something to prove in this grade. That includes recent Lingfield winner Bluegrass Blues and The Great Gabrial, usually thereabouts but hard to win with. Expose failed off today's mark at Haydock when bidding for a hat-trick while the lightly-raced Pretend has not raced since Meydan back in February.
Earth Drummer (IRE) 7-2fav (9-1) Held up in touch, led 1f out, kept on well, won at Ayr 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sep beating Athletic (8-11) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Capo Rosso (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Tinghir (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-95 (3).
Pretend (IRE) Evensfav (8-9) 7th of 11, 4l behind He's No Saint (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 7f con stks gd in Feb.
Green Howard 12-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 4l behind Our Boy Jack (8-13) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-95 (3) sft.
Whozthecat (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Prominent, pushed along halfway, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 9th of 16, 8l behind Englishman (9-3) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-90 (3) sft.
Bluegrass Blues (IRE) 11-4fav (9-10) Chased leaders, niggled along over 4f out, switched left and ridden 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep beating Scottish Glen (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Sir Guy Porteous (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong, 12th of 13, 22l behind Outback Traveller (9-6) at Ascot 7f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Silverware (USA) 33-1 (9-5) With leader, led over 4f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 33l behind Self Employed (8-11) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun.
Expose 7-1 (8-13) Held up, ridden and effort over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, one pace, 7th of 15, 7l behind Barracuda Boy (9-6) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
George Cinq 6-1 (8-10) Held up in rear, trying to close when not clear run from 1f out, never able to get on terms, 9th of 12, 5l behind Dutch Art Dealer (8-11) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3).
The Great Gabrial 16-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out until 1f out, stayed on, not pace of leaders towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Tinghir (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-95 (3).
Sir Robert Cheval 5-1 (9-7) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and chased easy winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Outback Traveller (9-6) at Ascot 7f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
