very slow away, held up behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
close up, until weakened quickly over 3f out
slowly into stride, soon in touch, weakened 2f out
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace
close up, weakened over 1f out
in touch, weakened over 3f out
held up mid-division, effort and headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out one pace
in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led towards finish
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, no extra when headed towards finish
chased leaders ridden over 2f out weakened final furlong
Nonrunner
With soft ground, a low draw may be an advantage and with that in mind, we will side with Majuro ahead of White Deer and Skhilling Spirit. A chance must be taken with the selection that he can bounce back from a moderate effort in a valuable handicap at Ascot where he may have just found the big field a little too intimidating and now in lesser surroundings, he could go well. He also received a bump in that race and wasn't given a hard time when defeat was inevitable. He had previously romped to victory on good to soft ground so he should handle the conditions ok and from his low draw, he may prove hard to peg back under Daryll Holland. Skhilling Spirit has plenty of ability and is very much at home on testing conditions. However he may need some more help from the handicapper before he can oblige and an argument can be made for him being better over six furlongs. Damika has claims based on her run behind Turnkey at Pontefact and shouldn't mind the extra furlong here, whilst Tagula Sunrise should have come on for his recent outing and mustn't be written off. White Deer proved at Chester last time that he handles soft ground so Mark Johnston's runner should be feared, as must Black Charmer who is hit and miss but can be excellent on his day. Countdown likes cut in the ground and won easily last time out so is worth bearing in mind, whilst mud-lover Mezuzah is another to be wary of from a stable that like a punt, however Majuro is taken to resume winning ways.
Skhilling Spirit 16-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, rear of centre group, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 8th of 26, 12l behind Royal Oath (9-0) at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Black Charmer (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Dwelt, towards rear, struggling halfway, last of 10, well behind Game Lad (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun.
Trafalgar Bay (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Mid-division far side group, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 9th of 25, 9l behind Binanti (8-7) at Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Jun.
Game Lad 15-2 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, led entering final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun beating Mezuzah (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Damika (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Turnkey (9-6) at Pontefract 6f hcap (3) gd.
White Deer (USA) 7-2 (9-7) Dwelt, soon led, ridden 2f out, edged right off rail, headed over 1f out, stayed pressing winning throughout final furlong, always just held, 2nd of 9, hd behind Vitznau (9-1) at Chester 7f 3yo hcp (3) sft in Jun.
Tagula Sunrise (IRE) 9-1 (9-6) In touch, pushed along halfway, ridden, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, 32l behind Game Lad (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun.
Mezuzah 6-1 (9-0) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Game Lad (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun.
Countdown 2-1fav (9-5) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Catterick 7f hcap (3) gs beating Wavertree Warrior (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Imperial Echo (USA) 8-1 (9-0) In touch, pushed along halfway, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Game Lad (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun.
Billy Dane (IRE) 100-1 (8-7) Mid-division, badly hampered and checked after 3f, behind afterwards, not recover, 22nd of 30, 15l behind Eddie Jock (9-7) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Wessex (USA) 7-2fav (8-8) Held up, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Wise Dennis (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Apr.
Majuro (IRE) 100-1 (8-13) Took keen hold in touch, squeezed and bumped after 3f, behind final 3f, 27th of 30, 27l behind Eddie Jock (9-7) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Danum Dancer 13-2 (8-10) Outpaced in mid-division, no impression from well over 1f out, 5th of 8, 10l behind El Bosque (9-7) at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp (2) hvy.
