slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden, headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased winner, ridden 3f out, no extra inside final furlong
made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to go clear inside final furlong (hand timed)
held up, not much room over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, switched left 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Levera lines up in top form and is taken to score again at the expense of Upper Hand and Critic. Alan King is better known for his jumping exploits, and indeed saddled a couple of winners at the Cheltenham Festival, but he is gradually becoming a force on the Flat as well, and can emphasise that point by landing this decent prize on the Knavesmire with Levera. Not surprisingly, nothing can live with the son of Groom Dancer at home, and he has translated his gallops work to the track with back-to-back successes at Newmarket this term. On the first occasion he beat subsequent winner Obe Brave, and then defied a 10lb rise to follow up on rain-softened ground under Jamie Spencer. Connections see him as a Jersey Stakes type, but wisely keep him to seven furlongs in his bid to defy a further 3lb penalty. Obe Brave's trainer Mick Channon saddles no less than three runners, the best of whom should be Upper Hand, but he has to give the selection 11lb which is no mean feat. Critic has scope but will need to improve, and in any case Spencer should know what to expect, having ridden Michael Bell's colt at Wolverhampton in January. The in-form Irishman is on the right one this time in Levera who can gain his biggest success to date.
Upper Hand 5-4fav (8-12) Pulled hard in rear, headway from 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, won at Windsor 1m 3yo stk (3) gs beating Chief Commander (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
South Cape 9-1 (9-4) Pulled hard, held up in 5th, effort and ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 8l behind dhtrs Yarqus (8-4) & King's Head (8-7) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Guest Connections 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 13l behind Dunelight (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf.
Levera 9-4fav (9-2) Made all in centre group, overall leader, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp (2) sft beating Layazaal (9-0) by a nk, 9 ran.
Antica (IRE) 3-1 (8-9) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 7l behind Obe Brave (9-3) at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Critic (IRE) 8-1 (8-3) In touch on outside, driven and stayed on final 2f, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 11, 3l behind Dingaan (8-5) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
