tracked leader until ridden 4f out, lost place 3f out, well behind final 2f
tracked leaders, closed 4f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on one pace from over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on same pace, went 4th close home, no impression
slow to break, held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, went 3rd over 1f out, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, pressing for 2nd inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 2nd 4f out until ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, took keen hold, headway 3f out, chased winner 2f out, no impression, stayed on same pace
made all, ridden 2f out, clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, eased close home
slow to break, held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
NonRunner
Ashkoul was behind all-the-way winner Fidaawy at Doncaster last month but the latter is unproven on going this soft and Mike Appleby’s charge is 5lb better off and looks to be hitting form, though was behind Cymro at Pontefract on his first run for new connections. Southdown Lad beat Cymro on soft ground at Newbury in September but was later behind Soldier In Action at Goodwood. Mark Johnston’s top weight won over hurdles over the winter but only beat one home back on the Flat at Musselburgh. GIBBS HILL won’t be fazed by a switch back to Turf after winning in a canter on Tapeta. He looks highly progressive so should absorb a 9lb rise and he did win on soft going at Sandown last July. Leicester winner Burguillos looks to have a lot more on his plate today.
Soldier In Action (FR) 6-1 (9-8) Tracked leader, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, lost place when not much room over 1f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 8 1/4l behind Carbon Dating (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Cymro (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Held up and behind, never on terms, 6th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Snoano (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Southdown Lad (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Keen raced wide in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Big Country (8-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Gibbs Hill (GER) 13-8 (9-1) Held up in touch, wide into straight, smooth headway over 1f out, led going well inside final furlong, soon clear, very easily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Apr beating Marmajuke Bay (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ashkoul (FR) 33-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Fidaawy (9-6) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Burguillos 7-4fav (9-7) In touch in 4th, headway over 1f out, led entering final furlong, kept on well, won at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in May beating Wapping (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Lord Yeats 33-1 (8-2) Keen, led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 16, 24 1/2l behind Scarlet Dragon (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Oct.
Song Of Love (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression under 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 8th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Specific Gravity (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Mar.
Fidaawy 2-1fav (9-6) Made all, hard driven over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Apr beating Sam Missile (8-13) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
