wore hood to post, made all, clear from 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on strongly, unchallenged
held up last, closer halfway, headway going well enough 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, went modest 3rd over 1f out
tracked winner, pushed along and lost 2nd over 2f out, hung left and lost 3rd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
soon tracking leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and well held over 1f out, no chance with winner
raced keenly tracking leaders, lost place halfway, soon behind, driven along and struggling over 4f out, tailed off
The form of The City's Phantom tailed off after winning this last year and runner-up Oh It's Saucepot re-opposes on better terms. Silver Gunn also won here at this time last year while the remaining trio have all scored on the all-weather recently. Mawkeb won over a mile at Chelmsford while King Francis made a winning reappearance over a longer trip at Kempton but has been raised 8lb. ROBERT WALPOLE (NAP) won at Southwell before returning a beaten favourite at Newcastle but a couple of winners have come out of the race and Roger Varian’s charge should settle better over this extra distance.
The City's Phantom 16-1 (9-7) Keen soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 16 1/4l behind Carp Kid (8-2) at Bath 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Oh It's Saucepot 6-4 (9-8) Struggled in 3rd and pushed along, finally picked up in centre over 1f out, went 2nd final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 2 3/4l behind Lawn Ranger (9-11) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Aug.
King Francis (IRE) 5-4fav (9-7) Held up in last pair, headway out wide 2f out, ridden and chased leader over 1f out, sustained run to lead inside final furlong, edged right and stayed on well, won going away, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (5) pol in Apr beating Ilhabela Fact (8-5) by 2l, 6 ran.
Robert Walpole 11-10fav (9-1) Chased leader until 3f out, held final furlong, stayed on same pace, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Coase (9-1) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Mawkeb (USA) 13-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd on inside over 2f out, strong challenge under pressure inside final furlong, won on the nod, won at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Rhubarb Bikini (9-6) by shd, 9 ran.
Silver Gunn (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Close up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 4th close home, 4th of 5, 14 1/2l behind Pride Of America (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Mar.