held up towards rear on inside, steady headway over 2f out, went 3rd approaching final furlong, stayed on well into 2nd last 100 yards and closed, not quite get up
took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway near side under pressure 2f out, edged left over 1f out, went 4th inside final furlong, never going pace to trouble leaders
raced keenly, led until 3f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, switched left 2f out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden and no progress
chased leaders, ridden and lost 3rd approaching final furlong, weakened tamely inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong
in touch on outer, headway edging left over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden 2f out, hung left over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division on outside, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, 2nd 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, chased winner, kept on same pace inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd last 100 yards
started very slowly, always in rear
tracked leaders in 5th, 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, all out
towards rear, never on terms
chased leader, led 3f out until over 2f out, chased leader until 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
David O'Meara won this in 2012 and is doubly represented this time with First Sitting and Rousayan. The former, an import from Dermot Weld in Ireland, has already won for the yard over this trip at Hamilton but this is a stiffer task from 6lb higher. His form looks stronger than that of his stablemate though neither may be capable of conceding the weight to BARREN BROOK, Mick Easterby's five-times winner has won over the course and distance from a higher mark and looked on the way back to form at Pontefract last month. Cornish Path was beaten in a lower grade handicap at Bath while the consistent Artful Prince has been finding one or two too good from this sort of mark. Exclusive Waters could hardly have won more easily at Newcastle though that was in a Class 6 and this is very much tougher.
First Sitting 9-2 (9-4) In touch, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gs beating Sakhalin Star (8-8) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Rousayan (IRE) 7-4fav (9-7) Prominent, every chance over 1f out, faded final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Breakable (8-13) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Roayh (USA) 6-4fav (9-8) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 10l behind Dutch Descent (9-2) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in May.
Toga Tiger (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 9l behind Reggie Bond (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4).
Cornish Path 3-1fav (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Boogangoo (9-4) at Bath 1m fll hcp (0-75) (5) gf in May.
Artful Prince 9-2 (9-9) Disputing 3rd, squeezed through narrow gap and went 3rd over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Shahdaroba (10-0) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May.
Park Place 9-1 (8-10) In rear, pushed along over 2f out, switched to outer over 1f out, ridden and ran on, not reach leaders, 5th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Rousayan (8-13) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Barren Brook 11-2 (9-6) Very slowly away in rear, headway on outer 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Beautiful Stranger (9-4) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Reggie Bond 7-2 (9-3) Mid-division, driven 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) beating Warfare (8-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Hernando Torres 6-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, challenged 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Ralphy Boy (9-3) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
War Poet 11-8fav (8-12) In touch and in rear, pushed along over 6f out, chased leader over 3f out, led 2f out, drew clear over 1f out, won at Catterick 1m 6f 4yo sell stks (6) gf beating Kathlatino (8-7) by 4l, 5 ran.
Correggio 7-1 (9-1) Loose before start, mid-division, driven over 2f out, stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, no impression, 5th of 13, 5l behind Interconnection (9-4) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Mfiftythreedotcom (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Steadied start, behind, stayed on inside final furlong, never on terms, 7th of 13, 8l behind Gambino (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May.
Ahoy There (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Prominent, under pressure over 4f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace closing stages, 4th of 6, 1 3/4l behind Belle Park (8-9) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in Oct.
Swiftly Done (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 9, 10l behind Fort Bastion (9-7) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd in May.
Exclusive Waters (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Mid-division, steady headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden out final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gf beating Applejack Lad (9-1) by 4l, 16 ran.