led overall centre, driven over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra
raced centre, tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, no impression final furlong
raced alone towards stands side rail, in touch, driven when hung left over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, just held
tracked leaders centre, ridden 1f out, soon every chance, not quicken final 75 yards
raced centre, tracked leaders, shaken up over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, soon ridden, stayed on well, just held on
Paul Midgley sends MERRY BANTER on the long journey from North Yorkshire and if she runs as well as when landing a much better race than this at Epsom she'll take all the beating. Excellent George hadn't been in the best of form before a much better effort at Windsor and is still 5lb lower than when scoring at Newmarket just over a year ago. Han Solo Berger badly missed the break at Doncaster last time after landing a Newmarket handicap so that run should be ignored while Case Key made all over 6f at HQ so the drop in trip shouldn't be a problem. Foxy Forever has won nine races and will love the fast conditions while Moonraker is dropping into this grade for the first time in over a year.
Merry Banter 9-2 (8-8) Chased clear leader and clear of the rest, ridden and headway inside final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Epsom 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Duke Of Firenze (9-5) by 1l, 8 ran.
Moonraker 25-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 12th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Texting (8-10) at Ascot 5f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Excellent George 12-1 (9-5) Raced alone on far side and well up with the pace, ran on in 2nd inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 9, nk behind Harry Hurricane (9-9) at Windsor 5f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Foxy Forever (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Held up in touch, pushed along halfway, never on terms, 7th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Harry Hurricane (9-9) at Windsor 5f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Han Solo Berger (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Went left start, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 13th of 18, 6 1/4l behind Dark Shadow (9-7) at Doncaster 5f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Case Key 8-1 (8-13) Tracked winner centre, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 6th of 16, 2 1/2l behind East Street Revue (9-2) at Thirsk 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.